POOR water safety knowledge and swimming skills are putting new Australians at risk.
Life Saving Victoria multicultural projects manager David Holland said at least nine of the 39 people who drowned in Victoria in 2014-15 were born overseas. 
"There has been a lack of opportunity to receive the sort of water safety education and swimming instruction more established Australians have received," he said.
"It's understandably not as much of a priority in their country of origin. "With new arrivals from Asia, the Middle East and Africa, there are so many other things in life that would take priority over water safety education and learning how to swim." Mr Holland is hoping to help reduce water mortality rates by increasing education among children and adults born in other countries.
"When kids come to Australia, if they have missed the primary school years there is less and less opportunity to learn to swim once you're in high school - and lessons are expensive," he said.
Mr Holland said 13,000 people received LSV's water safety education in classrooms and at the beach, and 1300 people a year were being funded to learn how to swim.LSV participants will march in the Australia Day parade to increase awareness of water safety.