Swim and Survive program to aid those that miss out on water safety skills

Royal Life Saving Society - Australia's Swim and Survive Fund program aims to provide children who have had very little exposure to swimming and water safety with the skills to swim, be confident, and keep themselves safe in and around the water.

Children from low socio-economic areas, Indigenous communities, culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds and those that live in regional or remote locations are most likely to miss out on acquiring water safety skills because of a lack of access and social or economic disadvantage.

Mindful that in many communities, swimming and water safety education is simply not accessible, the Royal Life Saving Swim and Survive Fund aims to reduce barriers to participation, by providing quality swimming and water safety courses for children experiencing social or economic disadvantage. The Fund achieves this by increasing access to safe aquatic facilities, qualified instructors and by providing structured swimming and water safety education programs throughout Australia.

Until the 11th September and then from 30th October to 27th November 2015, 40 children from the Western English Language School’s Footscray Outpost will participate in a Swim and Survive program conducted by Life Saving Victoria.

The students, aged between five and 12 years, will attend 10 weeks of free swimming and water safety lessons at Kensington Community Recreation Centre in Kensington, Victoria.

Commenting on the initiative, Claire Kelly, a teacher at Western English Language School - Footscray Outpost, explains "we strongly value the support of the Royal Life Saving Swim and Survive Fund and are delighted that our students have been provided with the opportunity to participate in this vital drowning prevention initiative."

Life Saving Victoria Manager - Multicultural Projects David Holland, added "the Swim and Survive Fund not only helps children to have fun while being active and making new friends, 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."

The Swim and Survive Fund utilises 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 children at risk of drowning.

With drowning one of the leading causes of preventable death in Australian children, Royal Life Saving believes that every child has the right to learn basic swimming and water safety skills, regardless of who they are or where they live.

Between 1st July 2013 and 30th June 2014, there were 47 drowning deaths in Victoria.

In order to prevent these drowning deaths, 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.

To support the Swim and Survive Fund and help Royal Life Saving provide more Australian children with the opportunity to Swim and Survive go to www.swimandsurvive.com.au

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