Swim and Survive grants offer generational change

In Term 4 last year, three of our Endorsed Swim Schools made the most of grants received from the WA Swim and Survive Fund by providing lessons focusing on multicultural and regional participation.

So, who were the lucky recipients? Onslow Osprey Swim School, Geographe Leisure Centre and Moora Swim School.

Throughout the term, Onslow school students participated in various programs with four students achieving their Bronze Medallion and one achieving their Bronze Star.

Moora Swim School is the only provider of lessons in a 100-kilometre radius, so receiving grant money and providing it to those who need it most is always appreciated. Participants travelled a 180-kilometre round trip to receive their lessons – now that is dedication!

Through the funding, Moora Swim School was able to subsidise the cost of lessons for four deserving participants and they couldn't have been more grateful, with positive feedback from participants including ''I can have peace of mind knowing my child is equipped with water safety and swimming skills.''

One family who lives on a rural property said, “we're surrounded by many bodies of water, so it was always something in the back of my mind if something was to happen and now I have a lot less worry as a result of the lessons.”

Geographe Leisure Centre used their grant to provide lessons to 11 multicultural women from the local TAFE. The swimming lessons were followed by English lessons which instructors also participated in.

The opportunity to have a dry lesson was invaluable as it allowed time to debrief successes and fears, discuss progress and review skills, which otherwise wouldn't have been possible.

Ecstatic is an understatement for how the 11 female participants felt about the opportunity with one participant confessing to Jodi Kelso, Geographe Leisure Centre Team Leader, “I was so scared to even look at any water – beach or pool. Now I can walk along the sand and be free!”

Jodi said not only did her kind words make her cry but that she was unaware of the generational trauma that bonded these women together.

“To be a part of their swim journey and to change their negative connotations into positive connections was such a privilege for me and a very humbling one at that. The enormity of this program and the effect this has had on our Busselton community is hard to put into words. And it was only nine weeks!” Jodi said.

To learn more about the Swim and Survive program, follow the link below.