Royal Life Saving provides new arrivals to Victoria with Swim and Survive opportunity

Life Saving Victoria with support from Western English Language School’s Werribee Campus and the Paul Sadler Swim School has completed an eight day intensive swimming and water safety program to help children newly arrived in Australia to develop the skills and knowledge to be safe in, on and around the water.

The 40 children aged from five to 15 years participated in an eight days of learn-to-swim lessons between 29th November and 9th December that set about building their confidence in the water, learning vital skills that may one day save their life.

The Swim and Survive Fund uses donations from individuals, community organisations, corporate supporters and Royal Life Saving Partner facilities across Australia to increase access to swimming and water safety education for people who are at a greater risk of drowning.

David Holland, Life Saving Victoria’s Multicultural Projects Manager explained “Royal Life Saving believes that every person has the right to learn basic swimming, water safety, survival and rescue skills, regardless of who they are or where they live.

“The Royal Life Saving Swim and Survive Fund makes it possible for people who are more likely to miss out, or have missed out, to come along and learn vital swimming and lifesaving skills.”

Royal Life Saving research has found the people in our communities who are most likely to miss out on formal swimming and water safety education are those who are indigenous, from a culturally or linguistically diverse background, from a low socio-economic community, live in a regional or remote area, are newly arrived in Australia, or are living with a disability.

Commenting on the program, Claire Kelly, a teacher at Western English Language School stated “swimming lessons are not just a valuable life-skill. For people newly arrived to Australia it’s such an important part of being socially included.

“We are delighted that our children have been provided the opportunity to participate in this program.”

Holland added “Australia has world class beaches, swimming pools and beautiful rivers, creeks, streams, lakes, dams and lagoons.

“Tragically though, these waterways claim the lives of too many people every year, each one of them someone’s loved one or friend.”

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

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