- Led by Bondi Rescue star Bruce Hoppo Hopkins, the Float to Survive programme has expanded its international reach in 2025, delivering community-based water safety training across Zanzibar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Hawaii, Cambodia and Vanuatu.
- Rather than delivering one-off lessons, the programme focuses on training local teachers, instructors and community leaders to create a sustainable model for drowning prevention that continues long after the Australian team has departed.
- During the latest mission to Zanzibar, Hopkins and water safety educator Ian Lee trained 213 people in a single week, including government swimming instructors, teachers, fishermen, community leaders, tourism workers and members of the Zanzibar Fire and Marine Rescue Service.
- The programme has proven particularly impactful in rural communities where waterways are part of everyday life, with participants progressing from supported floating to independent floating within a single session, many experiencing confidence in deep water for the first time.
- Following successful international missions, Float to Survive has also been delivered in Alice Springs, Cairns and Tweed Heads, with a national campaign planned with Belgravia Leisure in December 2026.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – As drowning continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide every year, an Australian-developed water safety program is helping communities across the globe tackle one of the world's most preventable causes of death through education.
Led by Bondi Rescue star and Australian Pools & Ocean Lifeguard Association (APOLA) President Bruce "Hoppo" Hopkins, Float to Survive has expanded its international reach this year, delivering community-based training across Zanzibar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Hawaii, Cambodia and Vanuatu.
The latest mission to Zanzibar saw Hopkins and water safety educator Ian Lee train 213 people in just one week, including government swimming instructors, teachers, fishermen, women and girls, community leaders, tourism workers and members of the Zanzibar Fire and Marine Rescue Service.
Rather than delivering one-off lessons, Float to Survive focuses on training local teachers, instructors and community leaders who can continue passing on the skills, creating a sustainable model for drowning prevention long after the Australian team has left.
"Drowning prevention begins long before a rescue is ever needed," said Hopkins.
"It starts with education, confidence and giving people practical skills they can rely on if they unexpectedly find themselves in the water. Float to Survive is simple to learn, easy to teach and can be adapted to communities anywhere in the world."
Across every country visited, participants with little or no swimming experience discovered they could safely float—many progressing from supported floating with a noodle to floating independently within a single session. For many, it was the first time they had ever felt confident in deep water.
The impact has been particularly significant in rural communities where rivers, canals and open waterways are part of everyday life.
"In rural Battambang, Cambodia, drowning in farming canals, rivers and ponds is a constant risk for children and adults alike," said Patrice Davison – Children’s Future Organisation
"The response from local authorities, teachers, community organisations, students and families was overwhelming. Float to Survive gave people confidence, practical skills and hope that drowning tragedies can be prevented through education."
Hopkins said some of the most emotional moments came from meeting people whose lives had already been touched by drowning.
"We met children who had lost siblings and adults who had survived near-drowning experiences," he said.
"Watching fear turn into confidence in the space of a single lesson is incredibly powerful. When people realise they can active float and survive, they don't just leave with a new skill—they leave with knowledge they can share with their families and communities."
The program's versatility has also seen it embraced in Hawaii, where Float to Survive was incorporated into a specialised rip current education clinic.
"Combining Australia's proven rip current education with Hawaii's local expertise created a powerful learning experience," said Margaret Wright - Kaua’i Lifeguard Association
"Giving participants the opportunity to safely experience a rip current firsthand reinforced the Float to Survive message to float and conserve energy, while building confidence that could one day save lives."
For Hopkins, the program's greatest success isn't measured by how many people he teaches—it's how many they teach next.
"Every person we train has the potential to educate countless others," he said.
"That's how we reduce drowning—not through one-off demonstrations, but by empowering communities with knowledge they can pass from one generation to the next."
With successful programs now delivered across Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Hawaii, Cambodia, Vanuatu and Zanzibar, Float to Survive is proving how a simple Australian water safety initiative can give communities greater confidence, knowledge and practical skills in the water.
Closer to home, the team has executed the program in Alice Springs, Cairns and Tweed Heads, ahead of a national campaign with Belgravia Leisure in December 2026, further strengthening its reach and impact across Australia.
For further information and interview opportunities with Bruce Hopkins, please contact IDENTITY PR.
Contact details:
Karen Griffin
IDENTITY PR
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