Beach and waterways safety

Victoria's waterways can be very unpredictable, especially in hot and windy conditions.

Before going out to the water, take steps to ensure that you and your friends and family know how to stay safe.

Swimming with children

Always supervise children around water. It only takes 20 seconds for a child to drown.

Keep in mind:

always keep children 10 years of age and younger in your line of sight
always keep children under 5 years old within arm's reach.

Beach safety

While enjoying a day at the beach, always remember to:

swim between the red and yellow flags
swim with a friend.

If you are not feeling comfortable in the water, you can alert a lifeguard to assist you back to shore by:

Staying calm, raising your arm in the air and waving it from side to side. This will attract the attention of a lifeguard who will be able to come to your assistance.
Conserving your energy by floating on your back and staying calm. This will ensure you have the energy to remain afloat until assistance arrives.

The most important flags on the beach are the red and yellow flags. These show the supervised area of the beach and that a lifesaving service is operating.
If there are no red and yellow flags, you should not go swimming.
Safety signs are also put in place to warn you about the permanent and occasional hazards that are present in the environment. Some of these signs are permanent for long-term hazards.
You may see flags and signs to show you hazards present on that day. These could highlight specific locations such as rip currents, which can move from place to place on different days.
Know how to identify and avoid a rip current. Find out more at Beachsafe, or download the Beachsafe app.
Check the beach hazard safety rating of the beach you’re planning to go to at Beachsafe and ask a local for advice.
Draw a Line in the Sand to stop, look and plan when you arrive at a beach to assess conditions.
Whenever possible, swim between the red and yellow flags at a beach patrolled by lifesavers or lifeguards.
If you’re caught in a rip current, stay calm, conserve your energy and consider these options:
- raise an arm and call out to seek help
- float with the current, as it may return you to a shallow sandbank
- swim parallel to the beach, you may escape the rip current
- reassess your situation - if what you are doing isn’t working, try another option until you return to shore.
Find out exactly what you need to when encountering a rip current.
For more information on water safety visit the Victorian Government's water safety page.
Check the weather forecast at the Bureau of Meteorology. Watch for changing conditions, cool changes and wind direction changes that could impact your beach activities.
Check the beach hazard rating of the location you’re heading to at Beachsafe. A beach with a rating of 8/10 won’t be suitable for swimming for most people.
Also check whether the beach is patrolled with lifesavers or lifeguards, so you can swim between the red and yellow flags where they can see you if you get into trouble.
Be prepared to change your plans if you get to the beach and find the conditions are not suitable for the activity you have planned.
It’s not worth the risk.

Fishing

You can enjoy fishing in many different kinds of waterways across Victoria. Waterways include:

banks
shores
piers
platforms.

To stay safe, we recommend you use the following checklist:

check water and weather conditions before you go
always tell friends or family of your plans, where you are going and when you will be returning
never fish alone, always fish with a friend
wear a personal flotation device and carry safety gear and a first aid kit
wear appropriate clothing with non-slip soles
watch the water at all times as conditions can change dramatically in a short time.

For more information about safety and licences, visit the Victorian Fisheries Authority.

Rivers and creeks

Inland waterways in Victoria include rivers, lakes, dams, lagoons, channels, and creeks.

Though they can seem like still and safe water, they can be very dangerous if not you are not taking the right precautions.

While spending time at an inland waterway:

check the weather forecast at on the Bureau of Meteorology website and watch for changing conditions
read safety signs to understand dangers
wear a life jacket when boating
drink alcohol responsibly around water and other water activities
always swim with a friend
learn how to save a life by doing a CPR or a first aid course
be aware of unstable edges on river banks, dam banks and lakes
remember that inland waterways have many hidden dangers such as submerged objects, debris and strong currents
be aware of the effects of cold water on your body
never overestimate your abilities and never underestimate the risks
be prepared for unexpected falls into water
refresh your water safety skills including personal survival techniques, swimming skills and water safety knowledge.

Visit Royal Life Saving Australia's river safety page to find out more.

International visitors and migrants

Tourists and recent migrants to Victoria can be at a greater risk of drowning in Victoria’s waterways. Differences in swimming ability and water safety knowledge can affect decision making in the water.

Victorian water and weather conditions can be unpredictable. Circumstances can change quickly, even the most confident swimmer must take care.

When visiting Victorian beaches, rivers or waterways, ensure you understand the risks, and how to stay safe. Lifesaving Victoria provides information on beach and water way safety in a variety of languages.

Before you go into the water:

obey all signs and directions around the water ways you are in
if you can’t swim avoid going into the water and never swim alone
only swim in patrolled areas, such as beaches with lifeguards.

Learn how to swim

All Victorian newcomers, visitors and Victorians should learn how to swim, and get basic water safety skills before going into the water.

Lifesaving Victoria run educational programs to teach people of all ages and backgrounds about water safety:

children aged five to 14 - Lifesaving Education Programs
migrants, refugees, and international students and tourists - Multicultural Educational Programs.

Water safety Crime prevention

Updated 23 January 2026