Royal Life Saving Society WA's Emily Balcombe with Deadly Sista Girls participants from Southern River College.

Deadly Sista Girlz dipping into Swim and Survive

Eight indigenous girls from Southern River College are taking part in an eight-week Swim & Survive Program at Leisure World Gosnells, building their swimming knowledge and skills as they prepare to commence an Extended Bronze Medallion Program in 2019.

As part of the Wirrpanda Foundation’s Deadly Sista Girlz program, and with funding support from the Department of Local Government, Sport & Cultural Industries, the eights students will learn vital swimming and water safety skills in time for summer, while enjoying tasty snacks after each session and having the chance to win cool vouchers!

This program also ran successfully at Kwinana Recquatic with the Deadly Sista Girlz from Gilmore College this year. Through our Swim and Survive program, Royal Life Saving WA aims to target as many Indigenous youth as possible, encouraging active physical education and learning lifesaving skills while opening up potential lifesaving employment opportunities after the students finish school.

Swimming and Water Safety Education Officer Emily Balcombe remarked "Giving these girls the opportunity to learn vital swimming and water safety skills will not only help them building water confidence, but will enable them to become mentors and leaders in their community beyond this program."

The City of Gosnells recorded 18 drowning deaths between 1st July 2007 to 30th June 2016. Of these drownings, 33.3% occurred in home swimming pools.

Royal Life Saving WA is working hard to ensure all West Australians have an opportunity to learn vital swimming and water safety skills, especially those in at-risk communities, to enable safe participation in aquatic recreation leading into summer.

We'd love to work with more schools across WA, to assist at-risk students to take part in our Swim and Survive and Bronze Medallion programs, enabling them to eventually seek aquatic employment opportunities in their community.

For more information on our Access and Equity Program please click the click below.