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Western Australia’s swimming instructors had the chance to learn from legendary coach and athlete turned water safety advocate, Laurie Lawrence, during a professional development course offered by Royal Life Saving Society - WA at the Terry Tyzack Aquatic Centre in the Perth suburb of Inglewood on Sunday.

The Olympic coach and former Wallaby guided over 30 instructors through a masterclass on stroke styles, drills and common faults to avoid, while fielding questions relating to the aquatics industry.

Swim school coordinators and staff also had the opportunity to develop their infant aquatics knowledge, with Lawrence’s daughter, Emma Lawrence, demonstrating early childhood skills development.

Royal Life Saving - Western Australia partnered with Lawrence, founder of Kids Alive - Do the Five, to support Endorsed Swim Schools continually improve their aquatic education delivery.

Stating that swimming is the only sport that can save a life and is particularly significant with the 2022 Commonwealth Games now underway, Lawrence stated “whether you’re involved in infant aquatics, junior stroke development, or elite swimming we must always build skills and I’m looking forward to sharing my swimming philosophies, garnered over the past fifty years, with members of the Royal Life Saving community in WA.”

According to the latest Western Australian Drowning Report, drowning rates in the state increased by 15% over the past year, with toddlers and young children at greatest risk.

Royal Life Saving Senior Manager- Education, Trent Hotchkin noted “this is particularly concerning given the number of children who had their lessons disrupted or discontinued over the past two years due to the pandemic.

“Teaching children Swim and Survive skills and water safety is the most important investment the community can make to reducing drowning.”

Images: Laurie Lawrence at the Terry Tyzack Aquatic Centre (top) and Lawrence with instructors at the event (below). Credit: Royal Life Saving Society - WA.

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