Leonora children enjoy week of swimming lessons

Children in the Goldfields town of Leonora recently participated in a special Swim and Survive and Infant Aquatics program at the Leonora Swimming Pool, thanks to support from Principal Community Partner BHP.

Royal Life Saving WA sent swimming instructor Grace Jones from Perth to run a week-long intensive swimming program to the Leonora community. Grace travelled to the remote town, which is situated 800km north-east of Perth, to deliver Infant Aquatics and Swim and Survive lessons to the town’s younger residents.

Without a dedicated swimming instructor in the town, Leonora children are often at risk of missing out on essential swimming and water safety lessons and are eager to participate when they can. “The lessons were really enjoyable; the kids had so much fun and really wanted to learn!” said Grace.

Leonora Swimming Pool is a Royal Life Saving WA Endorsed Swim School and follows Royal Life Saving programming including the Swim and Survive levels and Infant Aquatics program. Infant Aquatics is a specialised program for young children to participate with their parent or carer, and uses songs, games and age-appropriate activities to develop aquatic skills suitable to the child’s developmental stage.

“The week-long program saw six students and their parents/guardians participate in Infant Aquatics lessons each afternoon, working on water familiarisation, buoyancy, underwater skills and basic kicking and arm action,” said Royal Life Saving WA Endorsed Swim Schools Coordinator Amy Vearing.

“17 participants completed Swim and Survive lessons every morning and afternoon, from Level 1 through to Level 8. Due to the lessons being every day, they provided an intensive boost in the students’ swimming and water safety skills. Leonora does not currently have a swimming instructor in the community, making these opportunities all the more valuable.”

Royal Life Saving WA has been partnering with BHP to provide a range of water safety programs to at-risk communities throughout WA since 2003. Thanks to BHP’s support, kids in regional towns such as Leonora can access much-needed swimming lessons as part of their ongoing water safety education. Learn more about the partnership at the link below.