Swim instructors Jenna, Zack, Liv and Amanda
Visiting swim teachers make their mark in Halls Creek
Royal Life Saving WA recently sent a team of four swim instructors to the far north of our state, to ensure children in remote communities could have the opportunity to learn vital swimming and water safety skills! Statistics show that those in regional parts of our state are 2.3 times more likely to be involved in a drowning incident than those in the Perth metro area, while Aboriginal children are 8.6 times more likely to drown, making these skills even more important!
The four instructors included Jenna Tucker, Liv Mickle, Zack de Ruyter and Amanda Vilojen, who taught children from Yiyili Aboriginal Community School, Halls Creek District High School and Warlawurru Catholic School. Dozens of students took part across the two weeks of lessons before putting their skills into practice, competing alongside the students from Warmun’s Ngalangangpum School at the inaugural Kimberley Spirit Swimming and Lifesaving Carnival in early December.
Royal Life Saving WA Inclusion Officer Rochelle Graham says the four instructors thoroughly enjoyed their time. “They all said they really enjoyed their experiences in Halls Creek. They commented on how the kids were delightful to teach and it was great to see how far they’d come after their two weeks of lessons. It was also lovely to see the instructors cheering on their students at the Kimberley Spirit Carnival.”
Instructor Liv Mickle had the pleasure of celebrating her birthday on the day of the carnival, which made her trip even more special! While Jenna Tucker went on from Halls Creek to Karratha to assist with swimming lessons for children there. Amanda Vilojen ran the Yiyili Aboriginal Community School in-term swimming lessons and the Halls Creeks District High School swimming lessons. She also conducted our Go For 2 & 5 Swim for Fruit program, supported by Healthway, while in Halls Creek.
For Zack de Ruyter the trip to our north-west was quite an extended one, as he had also helped conduct in-term swimming lessons and the Pilbara Spirit Carnival in Port Hedland before heading over to Halls Creek! He also went on to Karratha to assist in running lessons there.
Royal Life Saving and the Department of Education are working collaboratively to provide swim instructors to regional and remote communities to ensure children don’t miss out on learning vital swimming and water safety skills. However, there is still a shortage of instructors available to take on these roles. If you would be interested in taking on this rewarding work you can check out the latest positions available at the link below.
