BH Fitness
BH Fitness, part of the long-standing and iconic bike manufacturer BH Group, is a global leader in fitness equipment for both Commercial and Home markets. The company, with the headquarters based in…
read moreNew drowning data highlights the fact that people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds are drastically over-represented in drowning deaths in Western Australia.
On average over the last five years 36% of people who drowned in Western Australia were born overseas, and 58% of these were from a non-English speaking background.
Of these drowning deaths 21% were new arrivals in Western Australia who had limited water safety knowledge and swimming skills.
Commenting on the findings, Royal Life Saving WA Chief Executive Peter Leaversuch stated “many people from CaLD communities have never had the opportunity to participate in swimming and water safety programs that many Western Australians take for granted which places them at a greater risk of drowning.”
Royal Life Saving WA’s Swim and Survive Access and Equity program was developed to ensure that people from CaLD backgrounds have access to swimming and water safety programs.
Leaversuch explains “our concern is that too many people from CaLD communities are not participating in these programs and therefore not gaining the swimming and survival skills to participate safely, and that needs to change.
“This program aims to break down barriers to participation amongst CaLD communities such as cost and access to culturally appropriate venues and programs. It has been very successful with over 1,000 people participating in the program each year.”
Office of Multicultural Interests Executive Director Rebecca Ball shares this concern, adding “with more than one-third of Western Australians born overseas, we are one of Australia’s most culturally diverse States.
“Our cultural diversity is an asset and the State Government is committed to strengthening and building capacity in CaLD communities.
“Supporting this program through the Office of Multicultural Interests’ Community Grants Program allows us to address the needs of culturally diverse communities, while encouraging community engagement and cross-cultural understanding.
“Most importantly, we are helping families adjust to a new life in a new country and to safely participate in and enjoy our unique lifestyle.
“In many cases, our culturally diverse communities have hailed from countries where they have not had access to water in a recreational sense, nor learnt how to swim. Programs such as the Swim and Survive Access and Equity Program are vital to ensuring WA’s vibrant and successful multicultural community continues to thrive.”
The Royal Life Saving Society WA and BHP Billiton have shared a long and successful partnership delivering a range of water safety drowning prevention programs for high-risk communities in WA including the Swim and Survive Access and Equity program.
Since 2003, BHP Billiton has invested over $2.3 million towards the delivery of these programs and has recently committed a further $2.375 million over the next five years to ensure that these programs continue to make an impact in the community.
Image: Courtesy of Royal Life Saving Society WA
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19th November 2016 - ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY WA HIGHLIGHTS RISK OF ALCOHOL AND AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS
16th November 2016 - LIWA AQUATICS WINS WATER CORPORATION AWARD FOR WATER EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP
8th November 2016 - SWIMMING POOLS IN REMOTE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES PROVIDE HEALTH AND SOCIAL BENEFITS
17th August 2015 - SWIM AND SURVIVE PROGRAM TO AID THOSE THAT MISS OUT ON WATER SAFETY SKILLS
9th August 2016 - WESTERN AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING PROGRAMS ENGAGE CALD WOMEN
9th March 2016 - LIWA AQUATICS TO PRESENT NEW WATCH AROUND WATER ‘FACILITY OF THE YEAR’ AWARD
12th October 2015 - DROWNING RISK FOR CHILDREN FIVE TIMES HIGHER IN REGIONAL AND REMOTE AREAS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
10th January 2015 - 10 MILLION ANNUAL VISITS TO PUBLIC POOLS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
12th June 2014 - RLSSWA SWIM AND SURVIVE ACCESS AND EQUITY PROGRAM
4th November 2013 - PARENTS VALUE SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY LESSONS ABOVE OTHER OUT-OF-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
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