A new swim program for multicultural women in Success
Over the past 5 years there have been 50 drowning deaths in WA involving members of our culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) community, which accounts for 37% of all drowning deaths. Given these tragic statistics surrounding CaLD groups in our state the Royal Life Saving Society WA has been developing specialized swimming programs to assist these communities in feeling comfortable taking part in vital swimming and water safety education.
Recently Royal Life Saving Society WA has partnered with Swim Mechanix Swim School to launch a brand new women’s only swimming program in Success south of Perth. The program came about because there has been a high amount of interest from multicultural women to learn to swim in the southern suburbs of Perth, and with the existing program at Cannington Leisureplex currently full and unable to take further registrations a new location was needed.
The program provides educational swimming programs for multicultural women who have never had an opportunity to learn to swim before, with a focus on accommodating each individual’s needs. There is a strong sense of acceptance and equality within the program, as instructors and participants acknowledge that each individual has a different set of beliefs and varying cultural norms. Women are taught to swim by a female instructor in a private setting, which accommodates for the ladies’ cultural beliefs and makes them feel welcome and comfortable.
6 participants are currently enrolled, with the capacity for a further 4 to take part. The program, led by Swim Mechanix owner Liz Fowler, will run on Sundays for 8 weeks until mid-September. Liz will also run a Heart Beat Club first aid program for participants on Saturday 16th September to teach them vital knowledge and skills in basic resuscitation and first aid.
With an ever-growing multicultural population in our state Royal Life Saving Society WA is keen to have more swimming facility across metro and regional WA express an interest in providing targeting programming for multicultural members of their community. You can find out more about our existing programs at the link below.
