Kambalda Infant Aquatics participants
Infant Aquatics program for Kambalda community
During late March and early April this year, seven of Kambalda’s youngest residents and their parents participated in a Royal Life Saving WA Infant Aquatics program at the newly renovated Kambalda Aquatic Facility.
Shire of Coolgardie residents have been making the most of their recently refurbished aquatic facility which was officially reopened late last year. The new facility features an Olympic-sized swimming pool, separate heated Learn to Swim pool, giant pool inflatable and improved community barbecue areas.
The Infant Aquatics students ranged in age starting from one year old and were accompanied by a parent for the lessons. The group got to enjoy the new heated Learn to Swim pool at the facility, attending daily lessons for a week with Royal Life Saving WA swimming instructor Gayle Cruden.
Gayle had been sent to Kambalda to deliver the Infant Aquatics program, due to a shortage of local instructors in the community. Royal Life Saving WA’s Endorsed Swim Schools Coordinator, Amy Vearing, said “we had to send an instructor as there are not any swimming instructors in the community who are able to teach Infant Aquatics.”
The Infant Aquatics program was one of many programs delivered by Gayle in the Goldfields area during her visit. Gayle was sent to the Goldfields as part of a wider swimming and water safety education program supported by Principal Community Partner BHP to provide a range of aquatic training to the local community.
Amy said the BHP-funded program was “to engage the community with swimming lessons and develop their swimming and water safety knowledge and skills. With there being a lack of instructors in the community, it is important we are able to run these programs so that no child misses out on learning to swim.”
The Infant Aquatics program develops aquatic skills in babies and toddlers through age-appropriate activities. The program uses songs and games to engage the children and help to familiarise them with the aquatic environment in a safe and fun learning environment. Learn more about the program at the link below.
There is a demand for qualified swimming instructors across WA. If you’re interested in filling this gap and teaching essential swimming and water safety skills, learn more about becoming a swimming teacher at the link below.