Water safety knowledge
Water safety knowledge will increase students' awareness of the risks associated with swimming and recreational activities at aquatic facilities, coastal beaches and inland waterways. This could save their lives.
Water safety will form part of any water-based programs the students participate in. It is important, however, for them to learn about water safety prior to participating in one of these programs.
The following resources may assist you to deliver programs and lessons at an appropriate level in the classroom before their program in the pool or the open water. Click on each one to open a new window.
Swimming skills
Swimming is a valuable life skill that can significantly reduce the risk of drowning, enhance community safety and build resilient children. The swimming skills of Victorian students will vary depending on a number of factors including their age, where they grew up, whether they have undertaken private swimming lessons, have additional functional needs, or live near a pool or open-water environment.
Students participating in school swimming lessons should be assessed at the start of the program to ensure they are in a group / level that matches their swimming skills. The Survival Swimming programs should be considered for students who have not participated in private swimming lessons or who have minimal swimming skills.
If the school does not have a pool on site, the lessons can take place at a local aquatic facility. Be sure to check the Victorian Public Pools Register and that they assess against the Victorian Water Safety Certificate.
Open water experience
Many Victorians spend their holidays at the beach or at inland waterways such as rivers and lakes. These open-water environments are dynamic and hazardous and every year there are multiple drowning incidents of children aged five to 14 years of age.
It is important that Victorian students are able to transfer the water safety knowledge they've learned in the classroom and the swimming skills they've learned in the pool to these open-water environments
These programs are adaptable to any level of competency and will teach students what the different hazards are, how to identify them and what to do if they or someone else is in danger. Students will be empowered to make safe decisions and respond appropriately to emergency situations.
