National survey results not reflected locally

SWIM schools around the nation have seen a decline in re-enrolments post COVID-19 lockdown.

In a recent interview conducted with the ABC the CEO of Australia’s peak body for swim school operators, Swim Australia’s Mark Ward said results from a recent survey conducted with 1000 people nation-wide showed 41 per cent wouldn’t re-enrol their children.

“What we’re seeing, even with swim schools re-opened in regional Victoria, we’re experiencing a 40 per cent decline in the number of students coming back to lessons and I think part of that is around financial implications that we’ve seen during COVID-19,” he said.

Mr Ward expressed concerns that children would lack the requisite skill to be safe around the water because swim schools had been shut for nine months with the pandemic.

Research conducted in response to Mr Ward’s comments revealed a different story closer to home.

Jenny, owner of the Torquay Swim School for 25 years, said she was overrun with people trying to enrol in swim lessons.

“I have a seven-page waiting list”, she said.

“Everybody came back – there has not been a decline down here at all.”

Torquay Swim School are the sole providers of a swimming school after the closure of Torq Swimmers, which operated out of The Sands Resort.

That may change if the Torquay Aquatic Centre goes ahead a, something Jenny is eager to see happen.

“We need the council to build this aquatic centre as soon as possible,” she said.

“Kids go to Geelong to learn to swim – we are full.

“We do six months of age to 10 years. We teach four hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon and do six classes per hour.

“Winchelsea is only a summer pool and is outdoors so there is nothing here”

Jenny said ‘desperate’ parents would take their kids to the RACV club pool prior to its COVID closure.

A representative from RACV club said the pool had re-opened but only to members, excluding casual visits.

“A local pool would get a lot of use during the day solely with swimming lessons. It is important to get kids learning how to swim, we get as many people in as we can,” she said.

“A pool in Torquay is a necessity.”