Halls Creek kids dive into free swimming lessons

Building confidence in the water from an early age is essential, but for many families in regional areas, accessing swimming lessons can be challenging due to limited facilities and program costs. To address this, Royal Life Saving WA recently delivered free swimming lessons at the Halls Creek Aquatic and Recreation Centre, giving local children the opportunity to develop vital water safety skills. 

Designed for children aged three months to five years, the Infant Aquatics program introduced young participants to fundamental water safety skills in a supportive and engaging setting. These early experiences help build confidence in the water, setting a strong foundation for lifelong swimming ability. 

School-based Swim and Survive lessons were also run for students from Warlawurru Catholic School as part of their physical education curriculum, alongside after-school sessions open to children from the wider Halls Creek community. The Swim and Survive program is structured around 16 critical stages in a child’s development, with lower stages focusing on efficient movement and water support, while higher stages build skills in safety, survival, and rescue, all while refining swimming technique. 

To further strengthen water safety in the region, local school teachers also completed Bronze Medallion training, equipping them with essential lifesaving skills. This training ensures educators can help keep students safe, particularly when taking them out on Country. 

Halls Creek is one of the most disadvantaged areas in Western Australia, ranked in the bottom one per cent nationally for disadvantage by the Department of Health. With no swimming school in the region, many children miss out on structured lessons that teach essential survival skills. Programs like this help fill that gap, providing children with the knowledge and confidence they need to stay safe in and around water. 

For local parents, the program also offered a valuable opportunity to engage in healthy, educational activities with their infants, reinforcing important water safety skills from an early age. 

Aquatic facilities in regional and remote areas play a critical role in community well-being. In Halls Creek, where temperatures soar and natural waterways can pose significant risks, access to safe, structured swimming lessons is vital. Alarmingly, children aged 5-14 in regional WA are five times more likely to drown than those in metropolitan areas. Initiatives like this help bridge the gap, equipping children with the skills they need to stay safe. 

Halls Creek Shire Sport and Recreation Manager Eldean Macale (whose children also participated in the lessons) praised the initiative, highlighting its positive impact on local families. 

"Royal Life Saving WA coming and providing our kids with swimming lessons has been great, especially for my three daughters.  They really enjoyed it!  We were a bit nervous at first about how the girls would go but seeing them get involved and build their confidence in the water was awesome." 

Thanks to the support of Lotterywest and the Shire of Halls Creek, Royal Life Saving WA continues its mission to prevent drowning and build safer communities. By bringing lifesaving swimming lessons to Halls Creek, the organisation is ensuring more children gain the skills they need to stay safe around water. 

Read more about our work in regional and remote communities at the link below.