Lead water safety agencies launch new school swimming programme

In an increased bid to save lives, Swimming New Zealand will launch its most comprehensive learn to swim programme into New Zealand primary schools on 11 October 2010.

State Insurance, Swimming New Zealand’s principal partner, is supporting delivery of the programme, which will benefit New Zealand communities. State Kiwi Swim Safe reflects the aquatic requirements of the New Zealand Curriculum and is also supported by Surf Life Saving New Zealand and WaterSafe Auckland.

Children will learn a range of aquatic skills in the classroom, in the pool and at the beach thanks to State Kiwi Swim Safe’s modular education programme and increased Swimming New Zealand staff to deliver training to teachers.

"Up until now our schools have been under resourced to deliver effective swimming skills and with many families unable to afford lessons, the kids are missing out. It’s hardly surprising that drowning is consistently the third highest cause of unintentional deaths in New Zealand,” says SNZ national learn to swim manager for schools, Belinda Galley.

“The classroom component supports the development of knowledge and skills to enhance safer attitudes and behaviours in, on and around water,” says Siobhan Harrod, WaterSafe Auckland’s Education Development Manager.

“From our perspective swimming and survival in the water is a core life skill and schools have an important role to play,” says Grant Florence, Chief Executive of Surf Life Saving New Zealand. “The vast majority of schools have access to water, but providing teachers with the skills they need is the most direct support that will improve children’s swim skills.”

“Forty percent of those we rescue on the beach each year are under the age of 15 years.”

Swimming New Zealand will run a national competition in October to coincide with the launch so that children can name the State Kiwi Swim Safe mascot. “From day one, we want the children involved and excited about learning to swim,” said Galley.