Partnership continues to drive innovation and positive change in WA
Royal Life Saving Society WA has shared a long and successful partnership with BHP, delivering a range of water safety and drowning prevention programs for at-risk communities throughout Western Australia with a focus on the Pilbara region.
"This important partnership is one that is making a real difference in drowning prevention right across the state. BHP is proud to have played a small part in Royal Life Saving’s bigger story through delivering vital programs to regional and vulnerable communities, training lifesavers and creating safer aquatic places for all Western Australians.”– Meath Hammond, BHP Head of Corporate Affairs
Social Investment since 2003
Since 2003, BHP’s Social Investment program has invested over $5.2 million towards the delivery of the Water Safe WA program.
rtnership, BHP's investment has supported several programs encompassed under the Water Safe WA program including:
Throughout the delivery of the program there have been some significant achievements:
Almost two million children have participated in the Swim and Survive program, many of these in the Pilbara region.
Each year, over 50,000 visits are recorded across the eight remote Aboriginal community swimming pools.
As a result of swimming regularly, reported skin infections among Aboriginal children has declined by 68% in Jigalong and 77% in Yandeyarra.
1,640 children from socially disadvantaged communities have participated in subsidised swimming and water safety programs.
1,421 Aboriginal people gained qualifications in first aid, resuscitation, Bronze Medallion and Pool Lifeguard.
Social Investment Project 2023-2025
Building on the success of the Water Safe WA project, BHP and Royal Life Saving have signed a new partnership agreement, which will see BHP provide a further $1.5 million over two years to fund a range of swimming and water safety education and youth employment programs across the regions.
This includes the delivery of Royal Life Saving's backbone programs including
Infant Aquatics ,
Swim and Survive ,
Swim for Fruit ,
Junior Lifeguard Club and the annual
Spirit Carnival .
A key focus of the investment will build on the current success of the
Talent Pool project, an innovative training and employment program that provides a sustained transition for Aboriginal young people entering the workforce.
Another focus area is the Cool Pool project, which champions activities that foster cooperation between the entire community, building strong social networks. BHP's support for this program, which incentivises school attendance through the 'no school, no pool' policy, has flow-on impacts to truancy rates and resulting anti-social behaviours, contributing to overall community health and wellbeing.
Communities
This partnership allows Royal Life Saving to deliver targeted swimming, water safety and drowning prevention education throughout:
as well as the remote Aboriginal communities of
Learn more about each of the eight communities benefiting from BHP's support at the link below.
Royal Life Saving WA continues to work with BHP to reduce drowning statistics and build resilient communities across Western Australia, offering swimming and water safety programs for all stages of life.
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