Support unit in the swim after funding agreement reached
14 March 2018
Royal Life Saving program ensures ongoing support for students
A new agreement between Tweed Shire Council and the peak life saving body in Australia will provide support for members of the community who face extra challenges when it comes to enjoying a swim.
The agreement between Council and the Royal Life Saving Society under their Swim and Survive program will cover the costs of ensuring students from Murwillumbah High School’s Support Unit stay safe in the water.
With the support of the program students from the unit will be able to make regular visits to the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre’s facilities at Murwillumbah.
TRAC Aquatic Programs Supervisor Jeff Collier said the funding will support a group with a wide range of swimming abilities.
“The program will focus on water safety activities and stroke correction for the more able swimmers, with the immediate prospects of assisting swimmers that are attending the State School Swimming Championships in Sydney in April,” Mr Collier said.
The funding means Keshav Biswas, a student from the unit, will receive specialised coaching from TRAC staff ahead of his trip to Sydney next month.
Other students will benefit from having one on one monitors to ensure their safety in the pool while staff will also organise activity and movement programs for those who can follow along.
The Swim and Survive program aims to increase the swimming, water safety and lifesaving skills of all Australian children with the overall goal of reducing the number of drowning deaths.
It specifically targets those who have challenges which mean they miss out on water safety education programs offered to young people across the country as part of the regular school curriculum.
Teacher Pamela Mathews said the experience of participating in the program will have benefits which stay with students throughout their lives.
“The extra swimming instruction means our students will be more confident in the water and their general fitness and balance will improve,” Ms Mathews said.
“Students will be more competent and confident to access swimming programs and activities once they have left school.”
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Caption: Keshav Biswas receives coaching from TRAC Staff member Tammy Pelikan