SBS Audio podcast helps new Australians keep their Head Above Water

As Australia heads toward summer, comedians and good mates Sashi Perera and Suren Jayemanne share how to become more confident and comfortable in the water, hosting guests such as Olympic legend Ian Thorpe.

There have been more than 357 drowning deaths in Australia over the past 12 months, a 27% increase on the 10-year average, according to the National Drowning Report 2025¹. With drowning deaths on the rise and a need for more water safety education, new SBS Audio podcast series, Head Above Water, takes an entertaining approach to helping new Australians feel more confident and comfortable in the water.

Hosts and comedians Sashi Perera and Suren Jayemanne share Sri Lankan heritage and a sharp sense of humour, but that’s where the similarities end – one is a skilled swimmer, while the other prefers not to get wet. Together, they learn why Australians love the water and how to participate in this pastime, from the basics of adult swimming lessons to the way water can bring families closer including through device-free time together.

“It’s exciting to dive into water adventures and safety along with the intricacies of different cultural expectations and etiquette. For myself that meant navigating a culture that encourages modest swimwear to one that celebrates bikinis. It’s hard enough to know what to wear to the beach, let alone the swimming part,” said host Sashi Perera.

“As someone who grew up in Australia but wasn’t raised to be confident around water, I’ve always felt on some level I’m missing out. We’re so fortunate to have so many beautiful spots to enjoy the water, but it’s so important to know how to have fun safely. In this podcast, we help new Australians build swimming comfort and confidence, with expert advice from water safety specialists, Olympians, and community leaders,” said host Suren Jayemanne.

Joining the series is one of Australia’s greatest Olympic swimmers, Ian Thorpe, who reflects on swimming as a skill for life and the extraordinary mental health benefits it brings.  

“I can almost be in a meditative state when I’m swimming. When you get into a body of water it’s as though any of your problems, anxieties, worries that you may have, dissipate with the ripple of the water,” Ian says in episode 2. “Once you get relaxed enough that could be standing on the bottom of the pool where you’re comfortable that you’re just surrounded by water.”

This podcast series is particularly timely as Australia heads toward summer, and the warmer weather draws people toward beaches, pools, lakes and rivers.

The first episode dives into surf, sun and preparing for a safe beach day with Life Saving Victoria’s Rami Hussesini. Across the series, listeners will also hear from Sikh community leader Harpreet Kandra, who developed a pool program for multicultural Australians. General Manager of Australia’s Boating Industry, Neil Patchett, shares the dos and don’ts of boats, jet skis and kayaks; Head of Research, Evaluation and Insights at Life Saving Victoria, Dr Bernadette Matthews, highlights the risks of rock fishing; and finally, Chief Ranger for Werribee Plains, James Brincat, appears alongside SBS Indigenous Lead, Kerri-Lee Barry, to talk about inland waterways.

All episodes of Head Above Water are available now. Listen to all of SBS Audio’s podcasts on the SBS Audio App, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, LiSTNR or wherever you stream podcasts.

[¹] Royal Life Saving Australia, National Drowning Report 2025

Notes to the Editor:

About co-host Sashi Perera

Sashi’s comedy is a commentary on the daily absurdities of language and life. She also draws on her former life as a refugee lawyer. Sashi’s debut solo show Endings was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023. She’s the only Australian comedian featured as ‘One to Watch’ at the UK 2021 Funny Women Awards, a two-time RAW Comedy finalist, and past cast member of hit show The Breast of The Fest. The well-travelled improviser, writer and yarn spinner was born in Colombo and raised in Dubai, Muscat and Perth, before working around the world as a refugee lawyer. ​Her unique international tales, bizarre perspectives and sharp wit combined go super viral on Instagram. Her socials are on 40 million views (and rising). She’s currently found gigging all around Melbourne and thoroughly enjoys doing too many things at the same time.

About co-host Suren Jayemanne

Suren is one of Australia’s most exciting young comedians, selling out shows across both national and international comedy circuits. Beginning his comedy career in 2011, he is a comedian, writer and actor. His stand up has been seen on ABC (Comedy Next Gen, Comedy Up Late, Tonightly with Tom Ballard) and SBS (Celebrity Letters and Numbers, The Cook Up with Adam Liaw) and he is a writer for ABC’s Question Everything. Suren launched his highly anticipated solo show Industry Darling, Adjacent at the Sydney Comedy Festival in 2021. In 2022, Suren and Neilesh Verma co-authored and acted in comedy short Radical Honesty as part of The Equity Foundation’s Screen Diversity Showcase.

About Head Above Water

Head Above Water is a five-part SBS Australia Explained podcast series unpacking how to stay safe on Australian beaches, pools, lakes and rivers, as well as exploring Aussie swim culture. The co-hosts are Sashi Perera and Suren Jayemanne. The series is a production of Deadset Studios for SBS Audio.

About Australia Explained

Australia Explained is a SBS resource that assists new migrants in settling in Australia with practical information about health, jobs, housing and safety.

About SBS Audio

SBS Audio has been the soundtrack for Australia’s diverse communities for 50 years. From our roots in multilingual radio, SBS Audio connects with audiences in over 60 languages, and continues to evolve with its award-winning podcasts, broadcast, digital and analogue radio channels, and multilingual online video services.

ENDS

For a PDF of this media release, click here.