Children from Tiwi Islands participate in Royal Life Saving Swim and Survive Program

Approximately 130 children from the Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic Primary School on the Tiwi Islands have been participating in an intensive Swim and Survive program conducted by Royal Life Saving Society Northern Territory.

The students aged between five and 11 years, have been attending five days of swimming and water safety lessons at the Wurrumiyanga Pool on the Tiwi Islands.

Lachlan Jones, a physical education Teacher at the Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic Primary School explains “we strongly value the support of Royal Life Saving’s Swim and Survive Fund and the benefits to our students that the Swim and Survive Program offers our students.”

Royal Life Saving Society Northern Territory Education and Program Manager Wayne Van Sambeek added “the Swim and Survive Fund not only helps children to have fun while being active but participating in this program helps to build their confidence in the water, while learning vital swimming and water safety skills that may one day save their life.

“Royal Life Saving – NT has a strong relationship with the Tiwi Island community and appreciate the valued support from the Tiwi Island Shire with assistance with pool hire and accommodation and Kakadu Air - Tiwi Islands Air - Connect with flights.”

The Royal Life Saving Swim and Survive Fund provides swimming and water safety programs for children from remote communities by increasing access to safe aquatic facilities, access to qualified instructors and by providing structured swimming and water safety education programs.

The Fund utilises donations from individuals, community organisations, corporate supporters and Royal Life Saving Partner facilities across the country, to increase access to swimming and water safety education for children at risk of drowning.

Drowning remains one of the leading causes of preventable death in Australian children.

Royal Life Saving Society Australia believes that in order to prevent drowning, every Australian child must have basic swimming, water safety skills and knowledge of how to be safe when they are in, on, or around the water.

However, the reality is that in many communities, a swimming and water safety education is simply not accessible.

Royal Life Saving Society Australia state “children from Indigenous communities, low socio-economic areas, culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds or those that live in regional or remote locations are most likely to miss out because of a lack of access or social or economic disadvantage.

“Royal Life Saving strongly believes that every child deserves the opportunity to learn valuable lifesaving skills and knowledge in swimming, water safety, personal survival and basic rescue.”

For more information on Swim and Survive go to www.swimandsurvive.com.au

Image: Wurrumiyanga Pool.

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