CHILDREN – some from landlocked countries or where they might not have access to swimming pools – are joining the city’s “Kids Alive Do the Five” swim program in droves.
The program, popularly supported by former national swim coach Laurie Lawrence, delivered a staggering 2730 water safety lessons in the final week of the September school holidays.
Now, Logan City Council will launch a series of classes for new Australians aged 16 years and over, commencing Monday October 11 at Aqualogan Logan North (Underwood) and Saturday October 16 at Aqualogan Beenleigh.
The free eight-hour Swim Logan program is aimed at newly arrived migrants and refugees.
The Aqua English Project and Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) are partnering in the programs which have offered water safety sessions in multiple languages, including English, Dari, Farsi, Russian, Burmese, Swahili, Samoan, Arabic and Chinese.
Aside from learning to swim, the program hopes to promote social inclusion through physical activity by encouraging culturally-appropriate swimwear.
Participants learn first aid and CPR training, and are given the opportunity to become pool instructors.
Children can access free swimwear, and transport to and from lessons.
Swim Logan is funded by the federal Department of Health.
Bookings are now flooding in for term 4 as the warmer weather and easing of pandemic restrictions see an increase in kids taking to the pool.
“Our culturally diverse communities are taking to the classes like ducks to water,” the city’s lifestyle chair Laurie Koranski said.
“This includes an increase in children from Arabic-speaking backgrounds which is promising given our city’s rich diversity of 217 different nationalities.
“By improving swimming skills, it builds their confidence, increases participation in sport and physical activity, and ultimately saves lives.”
To book lessons, visit loganleisurecentres.com.au/swimlogan.
Photo: Cr Laurie Koranski with Nithish Baskayan and Vasanth Baskayan
