Remote Pools partnership making an impact for 20 years

20 years ago Royal Life Saving WA and the Department of Communities began a partnership to provide vital swimming and water safety education through the Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pools Project. The project saw three swimming pools built in the remote communities of Yandeyarra, Burringurrah and Jigalong, with the aim of reducing the impact of drowning in these communities and improving health outcomes. The program has now expanded to eight communities across the state, making a positive impact on thousands of Aboriginal children and adults each year.

Indigenous groups have been identified as a demographic at a high-risk of drowning and non-fatal drowning in Australia. Aboriginal children drown at a rate two and a half times that of non-Aboriginal children.

Royal Life Saving WA General Manager Community Relations, Greg Tate, says the program is a clear example of how working together can make a significant impact. “Royal Life Saving pool managers live in each community for nine months of the year, maintaining the pools and delivering culturally appropriate community programs which include swimming lessons, swimming and lifesaving carnivals, birthday parties, after-school and holiday swimming, lap swimming, lifesaving training and other activities at the request of the community. These activities are only possible thanks to the significant investment made by the Department of Communities (Housing) to achieve health, social, education and justice outcomes for over 20 years.”

You can read more about each of the communities that benefit from these Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pools and the health and social outcomes they have achieved over the years at the link below.