Greater water safety awareness brings spike in learn-to-swim numbers
07 February 2017
TRAC enrolments rise by 25 per cent
Another spike in bookings for swimming lessons at Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre has been attributed to a growing awareness among parents about the need for children to have water safety skills.
A new term of swimming lessons began last week, with a 25 per cent increase in booking numbers compared to last year’s enrolments.
“Our enrolments have consistently risen each year, as more and more people become aware of the great need for children to have water safety skills from a very young age,” TRAC Aquatic Programs Supervisor Jeff Collier said.
“However, there has been a particularly sharp rise this year, by more than 140 participants, and this probably has a lot to do with an increase in drownings this summer. Increased media attention in these drowning has also left people acutely aware of the need for children to have swimming skills and water safety awareness.
“Classes start for children as young as six months and there is great value is teaching fundamental skills to kids while they very young. They can learn very quickly and an early introduction sets them on the right track for life, to be competent and comfortable in and around water.”
Andrew and Lisa Tiffen’s four children have all been participants in TRAC’s learn-to-swim program because they wanted reassurance their kids would be safe around water.
Mr Tiffen said he and his wife spent plenty of time in an around water with each of their children but also wanted them to participate in lessons to ensure they learnt the necessary skills.
The Stokers Siding couple’s youngest, Heath, has been doing lessons for the past year and looks set to follow the path of his siblings, who have all progressed to competitive swimming.
Mr Collier while an early introduce was highly valuable, it was never too late to learn to swim or to improve water safety skills.
“Children of all ages need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to be safe around swimming pools, rivers and lakes or at the beach,” he said.
“And it’s not just children. We have a full spectrum of ages participating in swimming lessons, including people in their 80s, who have decided it’s time to improve their skills for safety or as an effective, low-impact way to be fit and healthy.”
TRAC Swim Schools are licensed with Austswim, which sets a national benchmark for the quality of teacher accreditation and education resources.
TRAC provides lessons at its Murwillumbah, Tweed South and Kingscliff pools. For more information, visit trac.tweed.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 6670 2750
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Caption: Andrew Tiffen (left), TRAC learn-to-swim instructor Kate Betts, with Ava Betts, Heath Tiffen and TRAC Aquatic Programs Supervisor Jeff Collier.