Public Health Promotion Through Language Learning: Improving Migrants' Australian Beach Safety Knowledge Through a Reading Exercise for English Language Proficiency Tests

Abstract

Background: While Australia attracts overseas tourists and residents for beach-related leisure and sports, coastal drowning is a serious issue in Australia, with 150 drowning deaths and about 9000 rescues recorded in 2023/2024. Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities are at high risk due to their unawareness, linguistic barriers, lack of rip current knowledge and limited access to water safety education. Aim: To provide further support for CALD communities, this study developed a new pedagogical tool, a reading exercise for standardised English exams such as IELTS, incorporating beach safety information; it examined to what extent this material would improve international students' knowledge of rip currents and safety strategies. Research Method: This study utilised a quasi-experimental design to measure the improvement of beach safety knowledge using a pre-test, post-test and follow-up test. Statistical data were analysed in SPSS and R Studio, utilising descriptive analysis, and generalised estimate equations. Additionally, a thematic analysis of textual responses was conducted in NVivo. Results: The results show that there was a significant improvement (p < 0.01) in the participants' knowledge of rips, beach flags and safety signage warnings after using the material. Additionally, participants started pointing out a wide range of characteristics when describing rip currents. Although some deterioration of knowledge (except regarding beach flags) was detected 4 weeks later, the improvement was still significant across all topics. So what? Considering the high demand for English language learning material among migrants in Australia, this material should be shared with CALD communities to improve beach safety knowledge.