Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, has welcomed the imminent commencement of the VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program in East Gippsland.

“This was a pre-election commitment from the Coalition of $1.6m to a very worthwhile community program and I am pleased that once again local children will benefit by participating in these classes that at the end of the day could save their lives.

“Children who live in East Gippsland are not only exposed to the potential hazard of drowning in swimming pools or at our beaches, but additional dangers associated with swimming in dams, rivers and our lakes. It is important that they are educated from an early age on how to stay safe in the water.

“It is essential that our children’s lives are not put at unnecessary risk simply because they do not have the economic means to access swimming venues and programs.

Children throughout East Gippsland will be able to take advantage of the half-price lessons at one the following facilities: Bairnsdale Aquatic & Recreation Centre, Lakes Entrance Aquadome, Maffra memorial Pool, Orbost Outdoor Pool and Stratford Pool.

East Gippsland Shire Council is pleased that further funding has been announced for the VICSWIM program.

“The program will continue to be supported by the Council with discounted entry fees for participants at these venues. In addition, the program also operates at outdoor open water locations within the Shire, such as Marlo and Mallacoota,” said the shire’s Manager Recreational Facilities, Tony Brett.

Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, who is a volunteer water safety officer at Gippsland junior surf lifesaving carnivals, has previously raised the need for council-owned pools to be better utilised with subsidised swimming lessons for young children during off-peak times.

“Water safety lessons need to be given a high priority and it shouldn’t be left to schools to introduce children to swimming. As a community, we need to do more at a younger age to make it more affordable for all families to teach young people to swim.

“Every drowning is a tragedy and in almost every case, it is a tragedy that is preventable. Teaching children survival skills in the water from a young age is a critical step to avoid drowning among young people.”

The program which is being managed by Aquatics and Recreation Victoria will offer subsidised swimming lessons, bringing the total cost per participant to less than half the regular cost.

For more information about the program please visit http://www.aquaticsandrecreation.org.au