AusLeisure

The team involved with Blacktown City Council’s Aqua Learn to Swim have been celebrating the recognition of their recent of the ‘Outstanding Community Service’ award at the 2022 Swim Australia Industry Awards .

With Swim Australia representing more than 600 swim schools nationwide, receiving a Swim Australia award represents national recognition and Aqua Learn to Swim was noted in particular for two of its key programs - Swim Sense and the CALD (Culturally & Linguistically Diverse) learn to swim program.

Congratulating the team on their achievement in receiving this honour, Blacktown City Council Mayor, Tony Bleasdale commented “this acknowledgment of the team across our five aquatic and leisure centres is a testament to their unwavering commitment to customer service.”

Mindful of the alarming levels of drowning death, Blacktown Council recognises there is a clear need to encourage multi-cultural and linguistically diverse adults in particular to learn about water safety and to learn to swim.

In an endeavour to reduce drownings, in 2021, Aqua Learn to Swim launched ‘Swim Sense’ - an adult water confidence program which runs each January and is free to residents in the Blacktown local government area.

The program educates adults in good water safety, beach safety and learn to swim.

This year, in collaboration with the Royal Life Saving Society NSW, the Council also launched its ‘CALD swimming program’. Funded by Royal Life Saving, the program is free to Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) adults.

The program ran in Term 2 and Term 3, providing learn to swim lessons to over 100 adults.

Blacktown’s aquatic venues also connected with SydWest Multicultural Services, Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) and the Sikh community to raise awareness and encourage these communities to participate in this fantastic program.

Acknowledging these community links, Mayor Bleasdale added “we are pleased that Blacktown City Council’s Aqua Learn to Swim program has had such a positive impact on the community. No matter what your age, it’s never too late to learn to swim. It’s just as important for adults as it is for children.

“We are proud of our passionate and dedicated staff - all of whom go above and beyond to meet the needs of the local community.”

For more information on the Aqua Learn to Swim program go to www.aqualearntoswim.com.au

Image: The team (top row): Belinda Mcatear, Michelle Hartmann, Christine Mcdougall, Elizabeth Milutinovic and Julie Barker and (bottom row): Lisa Christoffersen, Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM, Nyree Parkin, Kevin Jones and Lachlan Lawless.

Related Articles

2nd November 2022 - Royal Life Saving report shows up to 40% of Australia’s pools may need substantial upgrade or replacement by 2030

21st October 2022 - Excellence in NSW aquatics recognised at ARI awards

21st October 2022 - Royal Life Saving report shows need for nation to catch up missed swimming lessons

11th October 2022 - Blacktown City Council issues expressions of interest for multiple opportunities at the BEST Stage 2 development

7th October 2022 - WestInvest to fund upgrades to community and aquatic centres, parks and sport reserves in Blacktown

20th September 2022 - Olympic Gold Medal Winning Coaches and McKeon Family recognised at Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia Awards

17th September 2022 - Rising drowning toll prompts AUSTSWIM to emphasise importance of educating new swimming teachers

16th September 2022 - 2021/22 drowning toll the highest in more than 25 years

5th August 2022 - AFL to make use of Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub

5th August 2022 - Swim It Forward 2022 campaign launched by Swim Australia ahead of peak drowning season

4th August 2022 - Blacktown Key Venues spotlights its latest aquatic and leisure centre achievements

21st June 2022 - Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope welcomes its 16 millionth guest

15th March 2022 - New splash pad opens at Blacktown Aquatic Centre

8th April 2021 - Swim Australia shares resources to aid swim teacher recruitment

10th March 2021 - Blacktown City Council partners with Royal Life Saving NSW to deliver new Swim Teacher course  

9th March 2021 - Blacktown City Council’s Swim Sense program empowers adults in the water

20th January 2021 - Blacktown Key Venues launches free adult swimming program

4th January 2021 - Blacktown Council marks five years of its Aqua Learn to Swim program

21st October 2020 - Blacktown City Council launches Drowning Prevention Strategy

16th August 2018 - Royal Life Saving WA provides Swim and Survive program for CaLD children 

19th March 2018 - Australian-first multicultural uniform guide opens sport to CaLD participants

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.