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Royal Life Saving WA has announced that Fluidra, the leading manufacturer and supplier of swimming pool and spa equipment, is to fund 120 Swim and Survive program participants in regional and metro areas in Western Australia.

Aiming to reduce drowning statistics in at-risk communities, the two organisations have signed a two year funding agreement which has already seen Royal Life Saving deliver swimming and water safety lessons to 20 Aboriginal children from the regional town of Roebourne at the local Wickham swimming pool in the city of Karratha.

The dynamic water safety program focused on the development of swimming, personal survival, basic rescue and lifesaving skills to provide the children with the ability to lead safe and active lives in, on and around water.

Delivered during the October school holidays to students from the Yaandina Youth Centre and Roebourne Remote School Attendance Strategy, the sessions were undertaken by program partner Real Employment For Aboriginal People.

With Aboriginal children drowning at almost double the rate of non-Aboriginal children in Western Australia, Royal Life Saving WA Chief Executive, Peter Leaversuch, says these programs are crucial as we work to prevent drowning in at-risk areas, stating “Royal Life Saving is proud of the new partnership with Fluidra to ensure more West Australian children receive vital Swim and Survive skills.

“Quite often, many sectors of the community, including those from Aboriginal, multicultural, and regional communities are missing out on this essential swimming and water safety and the health and social outcomes this brings.

“Royal Life Saving thanks Fluidra for their support and commitment to the cause to ensure no WA child will miss out on learning to Swim and Survive.”

Explaining that Fluidra is delighted to support Royal Life Saving though it’s Environmental, Social and Governance investing, Fluidra Marketing Director, Jonas Ryberg noted “the Swim and Survive program aims to provide swimming and water safety lessons to kids who would otherwise not have access to these valuable skills.

“It is exactly the sort of initiative Fluidra aims to support via the Social aspect of it’s ESG plan.

“In a nation surrounded by water with one of the world's highest levels of pool ownership per capita, we feel it is our obligation to help as many people as possible become competent swimmers.”

With statistics showing that people are 1.8 times more likely to drown in regional and remote Western Australia, many of the programs to be run during the next two years will target these communities.

Images show participants in the recent Swim and Survive program at at the local Wickham swimming pool in the city of Karratha. Credit: Royal Life Saving WA.

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