About 40 children from Altona North Primary School are taking part in Life Saving Victoria’s multicultural learn-to-swim program.
Hobsons Bay council has awarded LSV a $10,000 grant over the next two years for its water safety and familiarisation program, which includes swimming lessons at Newport’s Bayfit Leisure Centre.
Hobsons Bay has seen a steady increase in refugees from Burma (Karen, Chin and Kachin communities) and a large increase in the Indian and Chinese communities.
LSV multicultural projects manager David Holland said the program was not just about water safety; it also aimed to provide “aquatic role models”.
In 2013, Kazim Mosawi became the first Hazara lifesaver in Melbourne’s west, patrolling Williamstown beach. “Since then, at Williamstown we’ve had over 20 nippers from the Karen community,” Mr Holland said. “We’ve also had about 10 youth patrolling at Williamstown from the Karen community.”
He said new arrivals were over-represented in drownings and beach rescues. “For many of them, it’s their first visit to the beach.”
Other newly arrived communities being targeted in the swimming program include people from Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and South Korea.
Free swimming lessons for children under five are being offered under a separate initiative during Learn to Swim Week (September 24 –October 2). Details: learntoswimweek.com.au
