Redeveloped Oaks Swim Centre opens focussing on multicultural communities and children with autism

Children with autism and members of the multicultural community in Adelaide’s north-east suburbs are set to benefit from upgraded facilities at The Oaks Swim Centre.

Reopened on Monday following a three-year closure, the repaired and upgraded swim centre is located on the Seeing Differently with the Royal Society for the Blind site at Gilles Plains.

Operated by Royal Life Saving Society - South Australia, The Oaks Swim Centre aims to deliver a full program of water safety, swimming, and therapy lessons developed specifically for communities most at risk of drowning.

The pool operations will focus on programs including: the Inclusive Swim for the Autism and Autistic Community; Multicultural Swimming Lessons and Water Safety Education; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Water Safety and Swimming Lessons; and the Active Ageing Program.

Royal Life Saving Society - South Australia will also partner with Seeing Differently with the Royal Society for the Blind to deliver water therapy to Australian Defence Force Veterans as part of the Operation K9 (OPK9) program.

Commenting on the opening, Royal Life Saving Society - South Australia Chief Executive, Jayne Minear advised “we want everyone in South Australia to be able to enjoy the water safely. This is an opportunity to work with those in our community who are most at risk of drowning, to give them the skills they need to stay safe.

“We are grateful for the government’s support to be able to offer these programs; they will be life saving.”

With a higher incidence of drowning among children with autism and members of the multicultural community, Damian Papps, Executive Director at Seeing Differently with the Royal Society for the Blind, commented “when COVID-19 commenced the Royal Society for the Blind pool was de-commissioned and our clients and the local community lost access to any facilities in the local area.

“With the Special Purpose Grant we were able to restore the pool to a modern heated indoor facility, a fabulous outcome for our local community and our clients. We are really pleased to be partnering with Royal Life Saving SA to ensure the pool is operated by professionals with over one hundred years of experience.”

Image: South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas at Monday's opening of the Oaks Swim Centre. Credit: Royal Life Saving Society - South Australia.