Australia's Water Safety Council (AWSC) aims to cut drowning deaths in half by 2020.
The Australian Water Safety Strategy 2008-2011, due to be released in Sydney on Friday, has been developed over 18 months, with extensive industry consultation and input, both locally and from overseas.
Drowning deaths in Australia have been rising since 2004, particularly in the under-five age group, says AWSC convener Rob Bradley.
According to Royal Life Saving Society Australia's 2007 National Drowning Report, 277 Australians drowned in 2006-2007.
"We need to take some dramatic steps to reduce drowning fatalities and aquatic related injury," says Mr Bradley.
The strategy includes targeting high-risk age groups and high-risk locations.
Age groups most at risk are babies and toddlers up to four years, 18 to 35-year-old men and the over-55's.
"The new strategy seeks to allocate significant resources towards the major causes of drowning rather than trying to address every issue separately," Mr Bradley said.
Infant and toddler drownings in home backyard pools account for 40 per cent of deaths in the 0 to four age group.
