Blacktown City Council's Swim Sense programs looks to tackle adult drowning toll

Residents in Blacktown in Western Sydney residents will have the opportunity to develop important water safety skills this summer with the return of the Swim Sense water safety program.

Aware of the alarming increase in drowning deaths, Blacktown City Council’s aquatic and recreaion centres are determined to help reduce those numbers, with the ‘Swim Sense’ program having an important role at a local level.

Commenting on Australia’s summer drowning toll, Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale stated “drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for seven per cent of all injury-related deaths.

“It’s very important that people of all ages and backgrounds learn to be safe and confident swimmers so we can work towards reducing the number of drownings.”

Swim Sense is designed for adults who cannot swim or are not confident swimmers. It teaches important water safety awareness and skills they can use to build their confidence and competence in and around the water. The program provides basic swimming techniques and covers pool, waterways and beach safety.

A free four-day water safety education program aimed at adults living in the Blacktown City Local Government Area (LGA), the 2023 Swim Sense program started on Monday 16th January – running at the Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope, Blacktown Aquatic Centre, Charlie Lowles Leisure Centre and Riverstone Swimming Centre

Blacktown Aquatic Centre and Riverstone Swim Centre have both recently celebrated their 60th birthdays and with Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope about to celebrate its 20th birthday on Saturday 4th February 2023, the Blacktown Key Venues team advise “there is no better time for adults to learn to experience water in a safe way and open up a new world door of fun, fitness and social interaction.”