The State Government is helping kids stay safe in and around the water, with affordable swimming lessons kicking off across the state from Monday 6 January.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll joined Kathy Parton chief executive officer of Aquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV) at the Werribee Outdoor Pool on Monday to see the first day of the program get started – which is providing affordable lessons for families at more than 170 swimming centres, including Lilydale, Healesville, Belgrave and Monbulk.
“We’re providing this cost-of-living support so kids of all backgrounds can learn how to stay safe at the beach or around the pool,” Ms Allan said.
As part of the program which runs through January, families with kids aged four to 12 will take part in five 30-minute lessons, which run over the course of a week.
Week one runs from 6 January to 10 January, week two from 13 January to 17 January and week three from 20 January to 24 January.
Lessons can be accessed at Belgrave Pool in weeks two and three; Healesville Outdoor Pool in weeks one and two; Jack Hort Memorial Pool in Healesville in week three; Lilydale Outdoor Pool in week two; and Monbulk Aquatic Centre in week one.
“More than 16,800 kids will take part – learning the skills they need to enjoy their summers safely,” Mr Carroll said.
Ordinarily, a single swimming lesson can cost a family up to $25 but thanks to this program the cost for five lessons is just $35 per child – or $7 a lesson – plus booking fees. If eligible, families can also use their Get Active Kids vouchers to reduce the lesson cost to zero.
This summer more than 16,800 Victorian kids will take part in the program – learning the skills and water safety knowledge they need to enjoy their summers by the pool and near the ocean.
Aquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV) chief executive officer Kathy Parton said ARV is pleased to offer the VICSWIM program for its 49th year.
“VICSWIM has become a key part of the social fabric of Victoria’s summer. At a time of increased drownings, VICSWIM offers a low cost Learn to Swim/water safety education program for children aged four to 12 years, in pools, rivers, lakes and beaches across 175 locations in Victoria,” she said.
For the first time, there are 400 extra spots this year for kids with disability and kids from multicultural backgrounds, so they can learn the same skills with the help of specialised teachers.
Lessons for kids with disability will be provided through dedicated programs and kids from CALD families have the option of signing up for lessons in Broadmeadows, Craigieburn, Sunshine, Werribee, Dandenong and more.
VICSWIM’s learn-to-swim program has helped generations of kids to feel confident in and around the water, from foundational swimming skills to water safety education.
The Labor Government has invested more than $917,000 in the program to make sure more kids get their chance to learn water-safety basics.
For more information about the VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program visit vicswim.com.au.
