The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.
Keeping Watch—preventing our toddlers from drowning
The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, today called on his Parliamentary colleagues to sign up as a Pfizer Australia KEEP WATCH Ambassador.
Pfizer Australia KEEP WATCH Ambassadors agree to act as a community contact point and distribution centre for information on preventing toddler drowning.
'The Pfizer Australia KEEP WATCH program is the national toddler anti-drowning campaign now in its seventh year,' Senator Kemp said.
'Summer is here and as people head to the beach, rivers and pools it is a timely reminder that we must remain vigilant if we are to succeed in preventing the unnecessary and heartbreaking deaths of toddlers by drowning.'
Royal Life Saving Australia developed this public awareness and education campaign for the under five age group. Pfizer Australia KEEP WATCH is targeted at parents and community health workers and focuses on the four key points of supervision, pool fencing, water familiarisation and resuscitation.
The Australian Government is committed to water safety and provides direct funding to Surf Life Saving Australia, Royal Life Saving Society Australia and Austswim to assist them with national programs to reduce the incidents of drowning and near drowning.
'The Australian Government is committed to increasing the effort to reduce death and injury caused by drowning and near drowning. During the 2004 election campaign the Australian Government committed to boosting current levels of funding for water and snow safety initiatives by $10 million over the next four years making it a total commitment of $21 million for the period', Senator Kemp said.
'While toddler deaths by drowning have decreased by almost 40 per cent since 1999, this is an ongoing battle and it is vital that we continue to raise the awareness of the potential hazards of water in everyday life and to protect the most vulnerable in our community.'
CANBERRA
2 December 2004
Media contact: Adrian Chippindale, 02 6277 7350 or 0407 208 743