Hundreds more WA children expected to gain lifesaving Bronze Medallion

A new agreement between the Western Australian Government and Royal Life Saving Society of Western Australia (RLSSWA) will make it easier and cheaper for school-aged children to learn high-level swimming and lifesaving skills, and earn their Bronze Medallion.

The arrangement will enable students to complete higher level awards such as the Bronze Medallion without having to pay for stickers and badges.

Introducing the initiative, Western Australian Education Minister Peter Collier stated “this agreement with Royal Life Saving WA will save families collectively more than $50,000.

"Swimming and water safety skills are essential in a State like Western Australia and I would like to see an extra 500 children gain their Bronze Medallion this summer."

Minister Collier said he was pleased Royal Life Saving WA had increased support for the Department of Education's VacSwim and in-term swimming and water safety programs.

He added “we hope these changes will help keep children in swimming lessons and also increase the number of children from disadvantaged and culturally diverse backgrounds who may currently be missing out.”

The new agreement relates to Western Australian Department of Education-run in-term and VacSwim programs which attracts 97% of public school students in Western Australia.

The agreement will see badge fees for higher-level swimming stages waived although a small registration fee and pool entry fees still apply.

For more information go to www.education.wa.edu.au

Top image courtesy of the Western Australian Department of Education.

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