Vital Bronze Medallion skills for Cecil Andrews students

Royal Life Saving WA has worked for many years to build the swimming and water safety skills of children and adults in Aboriginal communities across WA. Recent data shows that, across Australia, there’s been a 47% decrease in drowning deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the past 10 years, however WA still has the second highest rate of drowning amongst Aboriginal people compared to other states and territories.

As we work to reduce those statistics Royal Life Saving WA Trainer Leanne Coverley-Brandis recently taught six students and two mentors from Cecil Andrews College Clontarf Academy vital swimming, water safety and rescue skills through an Extended Bronze Medallion program.

During October they completed the 2nd component of this program, in which they learned lifesaving skills such as water rescues and CPR. Those skills saw them receive their full Bronze Medallion certificate last week.

This extended Bronze Medallion was funded by a Move It AUS Participation Grant, through which Royal Life Saving delivers the Swimming Skills for an Active Life program. This is a broad and balanced swimming and water safety program, specifically designed to help inexperienced swimmers (both children and adults) gain practical skills to enable them to participate safely in a range of physical aquatic activities, for life.

As part of the program the participants also received special Sport Australia packs, ensuring they have all they need to enjoy the water this summer! We’re pleased to see these boys learn vital skills and develop their confidence in the water, and they deserve to be very proud of their efforts.

You can read more about Royal Life Saving WA’s work in our state’s Aboriginal communities at the link below.