AusLeisure

Long term swimming industry identity - Rackley Swimming - has developed and launched an Australian first app which aims to make learning to swim more accessible and affordable for all ages and abilities.

Launched on Queensland’s Gold Coast, the Paredu app has been created by Rackley Swimming who operate 29 swimming centres across South East Queensland and boast decades of experience in teaching people of all ages to swim including athletes who are preparing for major state, national and global events including the Olympics.

Paredu Chief Executive Wayne Pollock said that drowning is the third-leading cause of accidental death in Australia and according to Royal Life Saving Society Australia, 90 people lost their lives in Australian waterways and swimming pools between 1st December 2022 and 28th February 2023.

Pollock notes “Our team wanted to create a way where people could learn to swim in their own time whether it be in their own pool, a bath for babies, a public pool or even rivers or lakes in those areas where public facilities are not available.

“The rate of drownings in Australia each year is devastating, and we are coming off one of the worst summer seasons in years so it’s a massive problem across the country. We want to dramatically reduce that number through accessible and comprehensive lessons that combine digital and physical learning through one easy to use app.

“It’s never too early or too late to learn to swim and be safe in the water and we believe the market for the Paredu app is significant with not just everyday Australians but also our growing migrant population, many who come from countries where swimming is seen as a luxury leisure activity.

“One in five Australians also identify as having some sort of a disability and learning to swim with the Paredu app takes this into consideration by allowing lessons to be taken under circumstances that consider an individual’s lifestyle.”

Pollock said there were a number of reasons why more people, especially children are growing up not knowing how to swim, with COVID lockdowns being one of the major factors in recent years.

“The Paredu app aims to remove the barrier of affordability and accessibility of swimming lessons by providing a low cost, app-based solution and with this we are very confident that more children will learn to swim.

“The app is easy to access and is perfect for time-poor parents with young children who can’t make it to traditional swimming lessons, or people living in rural areas without public pools but still have access to rivers, creeks and private pools,” Pollock added.

Business woman and mother of two Lizzie Henebery said the Paredu app was a time and money saver for her family as she is able to teach her six month-old daughter Jessie to swim in her own time.

Henebery shared “I work full time and it is really difficult for me to take Jessie to swimming lessons on a consistent basis. I also have a seven-year-old daughter Layla and it was a real struggle to teach her to swim when she was young as I was running my own business so we are very excited to use Paredu’s lessons and video instructions to help little Jessie learn to swim.

“It’s great that the program can be modified to suit her age and abilities and best of all I have other friends who have children of a similar age so we can all learn together with expert knowledge and information at our fingertips.”

The Paredu app can be downloaded on any Apple or Android device in the App store. It offers a two-week free trial and can be purchased for $10.99 per month or $89.00 per year. For more information visit www.paredu.org

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