Summer swimming fun at Goldfields Oasis

138 Kalgoorlie kids have enjoyed a VacSwim program these January school holidays thanks to a partnership between Royal Life Saving WA and the Department of Education.

Goldfields Oasis Recreation Centre hosted the two-week Swim and Survive program, which provided much-needed swimming and water safety education to participants. Many of the students are now eager to continue their Swim and Survive journey!

The program provided two weeks of lessons to students, catering to a range of levels and abilities from Stage 1 to Stage 15/16. Royal Life Saving WA swimming instructor Hannah Knight travelled to the Goldfields to help deliver the lessons. “Having heard that children in rural areas were missing out on swimming lessons, I felt motivated to teach rurally,” said Hannah.

“The children in my classes at Goldfields Oasis were incredible and the families were so supportive. It was an amazing experience, and I am very grateful to have been placed in Kalgoorlie with the support of Royal Life Saving.”

Statistics show that people are 2.3 times more likely to drown in regional and remote WA, spurring a range of programs targeted to these communities.

In addition to the Kalgoorlie VacSwim program, Royal Life Saving WA has assisted the Department of Education by providing swimming instructors to several regional locations including Paraburdoo, Gracetown, Hopetoun and Yallingup.