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Before School Swimming Trial Makes Waves

18 February 2016

More than a hundred Victorian students are learning life-saving swimming skills thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s school swimming trial.

Minister for Emergency Services Jane Garrett attended the Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre in Frankston to watch the first of three groups of students successfully graduate from the 10-lesson program.

The $100,000 Life Saving Victoria Before School Survival Swimming and Water Safety trial involves more than 125 students from Banyan Fields Primary School in grades 5 and 6.

The program is designed to prepare students for emergency situations, such as falling into water unexpectedly, and will also teach children about the risks around the water.

The students learn survival skills such as treading water, floating, rescue strategies and basic CPR.

Many of the year five and six students from Banyan Fields Primary School have already signed-up for the trial, and registrations continue to grow for the next two groups to take part in the trial.

Between 2000 and 2014, there were 229 drowning and near-drowning incidents recorded, involving children aged 5 to 14. Thirty-two of these were fatal and the remainder required hospitalisation.

The trial, which started on February 8, will conclude on 21 March 2016. A report on the trial will be provided to Government.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Services Jane Garrett

“The Andrews Labor Government is proud to be providing students at Banyan Fields Primary School with the opportunity to learn life-saving swimming skills”.

“This trial is important because it will give us a snapshot of the current swimming capability among our kids.”

Quotes attributable to Local Member for Carrum Sonya Kilkenny

“This trial will help give our kids the skills and knowledge to stay safe around the water.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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