Hedland teachers learn lifesaving skills
A group of Port Hedland school teachers now have the skills to teach their students vital pool lifesaving skills, after attending a pool lifesaving workshop during the recent Spirit Festival run by Royal Life Saving WA in Port Hedland.
The session was attended by six local primary school teachers who’d been in contact with Royal Life Saving Pilbara Development Officer Jacqui Forbes. She had encouraged them to incorporate pool lifesaving activities at their annual school swimming carnivals.
The teachers were first taken through a classroom-based session to learn about the technical aspects of the various lifesaving activities that can be incorporated into carnivals, before then getting in the pool to go through a demonstration of these events, including rope throwing and mannequin tows.
A group of students from Roebourne Primary School attended the session to be involved in this demonstration of these activities, which they would compete in at the Spirit Swimming and Lifesaving Carnival the following day.
Following the pool lifesaving workshop the teachers then attended a cultural awareness session. Royal Life Saving WA’s Swimming and Water Safety Manager Trent Hotchkin said that session was designed to ensure the teachers were equipped the deal with the cultural mix seen in the WA community.
“Western Australia is one of the most diverse states and territories in our nation, with almost one third of our population born overseas and more than half having at least one parent born overseas. The cultural awareness session was about working with the instructors in the community to ensure they can teach children from a variety of backgrounds in a culturally appropriate way.”
Royal Life Saving WA looks forward to seeing these schools in the Hedland community incorporate these important lifesaving skills into their swimming carnivals over the coming year. These activities not only teach vital skills to students but are a great way to encourage those who may not be quick swimmers to also enjoy swimming carnivals by getting involved in activities where speed is not the only factor for success!
To find out more about how you can incorporate lifesaving events into your next school swimming carnival please click the link below.
