Swim Teacher boost for the Kimberley

The small Kimberley community of Warmun is set to gain four new swim instructors with Royal Life Saving WA training local teaching assistants to help deliver vital swim lessons.

With fewer people per square kilometre than almost any other place on earth, the Kimberley is one of WA’s most remote regions and has the second highest drowning rate in the state. 

Royal Life Saving has been working with the Department of Education to provide in-term swimming lessons for the outback community, which has seen two additional schools join the program.

“With the swim school doubling in size, we thought it would be great to train the Aboriginal Teaching Assistants who’ve been coming to lessons to drop the students off,” said Royal Life Saving Pool Manager, Stephen Waterman.

As well as the three teaching assistants, Stephen is also training an employee of the Gija Youth Program, a local mentoring initiative.   

“The qualified swim instructors will be a huge help in delivering these valuable lessons while working towards Royal Life Saving’s strategic plan to train lifesavers and first responders in every community,” said Stephen.

"The course is going really well and we are looking forward to getting even more community members trained in water safety and on the path to become swim teachers”.

The participants have completed the practical and online elements of their learning and will do their practice hours in Term 1, ready for teaching by Term 4.

Royal Life Saving WA Senior Manager Education, Trent Hotchkin, says it’s an important step in reducing the high drowning rate in the vulnerable region.

“We’re pleased to partner with the Department of Education and provide our support to ensure kids in regional and remote WA have access to vital swimming and water safety lessons,” he said.

“No children should miss out on learning these skills due to their location, and ensuring all Western Australian children learn to Swim and Survive is one of the most important investments we can make to prevent drowning.

Though the Warmun community will soon be bolstered by new swim instructors, there is still a shortage of teachers across the state. If you would be interested in taking on this rewarding work you can submit an expression of interest at the link below.