Those participating in the program are the parents of students studying at local public schools, and Cumberland Mayor Greg Cummings said the program which started on September 1, would run until the end of the October school holidays.
“Swimming and water safety are valuable life skills and it’s terrific that this program is providing up to five free classes, in a wonderfully inclusive and supportive environment,” he said.
“Now is a great time for people to build up their swimming and water safety skills so that when the summer swimming season arrives, they are confident in the water.”
The free learn-to-swim classes are funded by Royal Life Saving, which received a water safety grant to improve water safety among adult refugee and migrant participants.
Cumberland’s swimming centres at Lidcombe, Granville and Guildford, all have heated indoor or outdoor pools and are open all year around, while the Merrylands pool closes over winter and is set to re-open next month. The Wentworthville Swimming Centre is closed for renovations and will reopen in 2021.
For information on opening times and locations, visit cumberland.nsw.gov.au.
Splash out on free class for refugees
DIVING in to learn valuable water safety and basic swimming skills, a group of parents from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds get help from an instructor at Guildford pool as part of a free program at Cumberland Council’s swim centres funded by Royal Life Saving.
ALMOST 100 residents of refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds are learning how to swim and be safe in the water in the lead up to summer.
