Infant Aquatics experts share their skills

26 February 2019

Many of Royal Life Saving WA's Endorsed Swim School Coordinators had the opportunity to learn from the best of the best recently, when Emma and Jane Lawrence ran a professional development session during their visit to Perth for the Rottnest Swim.

The session taught the co-ordinators the very important skill of how to engage with timid toddlers, along with some very worthwhile tips to enable them to get the best out of these children during their lessons. 35 swim school coordinators and swimming instructors attended the session and were able to ask questions and gain advice for specific situations within their own swim school.Swim instructors with Emma and Jane Lawrence and their Kids Alive mascots

Before the session started those attending were able to watch our Keep Watch ambassador video, which tells the story of a number of families who've experienced toddler drowning. This helped the participants to fully understand the importance of what they do as swim school coordinators and staff daily, and why we are so committed to ensure all West Australian children have an opportunity to learn to swim through our Infant Aquatics and Swim & Survive programs.

Emma and Jane Lawrence both work with their father Laurie at the Laurie Lawrence Swim School, and are passionate advocates for the Kids Alive do the Five message which was created by Laurie Lawrence in 1988. Their passion for teaching children to swim shone through as the discussion flowed freely with the swim school staff and no question was left unanswered. The girls even stuck around for some pictures with the Kids Alive mascots afterwards!

Laurie, Emma and Jane Lawrence were all a huge part of our Infant Aquatics review in 2014, and along with consultation from our Endorsed Swim School network a more consistent curriculum was formed. We look forward to continuing to partner with them into the future as we work together to ensure all children have an opportunity to learn vital swimming and water safety skills, and all parents understand how important it is to develop a strong water safety culture in their home.