Registrations open for VICSWIM’s summer program

APPLICATIONS are now open for the popular VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program, which teaches children basic swimming skills as well as vital water safety education at a subsidised cost.

Families with children aged four to 12 can choose to enrol in five 30-minute lessons, which run over the course of a week, or four 35-minute lessons, for $35.

VICSWIM’s learn to swim program has helped generations of children learn the skills and water safety knowledge they need to stay safe in and around water, so they can enjoy their summers by the pool and near the ocean.

An extra $117,000 has been put into the program to provide tailored lessons for kids with disability and from multicultural backgrounds.

The additional funding will create 400 extra spots for children across the state.

Last summer, more than 16,000 Victorian children took part at 169 swimming centres across the state – with 120 of these located in regional Victoria.

Children from CALD backgrounds can sign up for swim lessons in 11 council areas, from regional cities such as Mildura to metro suburbs including Dandenong.

Next year, VICSWIM’s beach program will run at beaches including Point Roadknight in Anglesea, Ocean Grove, and Cosy Corner in Torquay.

“ARV is pleased to run its 49th annual VICSWIM Summer Kidz affordable water safety education/learn to swim program for children in beaches, lakes, rivers and aquatic centres across regional and metropolitan Victoria,” Aquatics Recreation Victoria chief executive officer Kathy Parton said.

“This highly valued program has never been more important as it fills a vital void in thesState’s Learn to Swim offering providing swimming lessons to communities who would often not have access to swimming lessons.”

The new funding takes the Victorian government’s investment in the program to $917,000.

It is part of wide-ranging efforts to promote swimming safety and ensure even more children get their chance to learn water safety basics.

“The importance of water safety knowledge and swimming skills cannot be overestimated, and this program is making sure all Victorian kids have these crucial skills,” Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said.

For more information, head to vicswim.com.au