The campaign will provide educational material for residents on safe swimming practices and include teaching water safety to children and their families during story time activities as well as teaching the Living with Water Education Program at the council’s Education and Child Care Centres.
Mayor Lisa Lake, who drove the initiative, said that she was concerned to hear about the number of drowning deaths and near drowning incidents that occurred across Australia and in our own backyard.
“Drowning is still the leading cause of death in children aged one to three. We are told by Royal Life Saving Australia that young males and seniors continue to be at greater risk of drowning, so are people from multicultural communities due to cultural differences in swimming ability and water safety knowledge,” she said.
As part of the campaign, Deputy Mayor Suman Saha has taken the plunge and joined the Learn to Swim Program, with a three-part series showcasing his journey as he learns to swim as an adult and develops the necessary skills to stay water safe.
Mayor Lake also said the council recognised the importance of water safety and how learning to swim could help keep our community safe.
“By showing everyone how easy and enjoyable swimming lessons are, we are hopeful that others will be encouraged to give swimming lessons a go too,” she said.
