NEWS DESK
Drowning death lessons for all Key to the door: The Robinson-Teka family’s Tyler, Taine and mum Erina, with Carrum MP Sonia Kilkenny and Housing, Disability & Ageing Minister Martin Foley.
Detour plan keeps roof over heads AN innovative housing plan run by Melbourne City Mission – and funded by the state government – is helping get young Frankston people into affordable accommodation and breaking what’s termed “the cycle of homelessness”. The Detour program helps those aged 12-24 to deal with problems at home, or when they have recently left home and are having trouble finding a secure, safe place to live. Housing, Disability & Ageing Minister Martin Foley opened the service last week. It aims to support vulnerable young people who are newly homeless or at risk, as well as keeping them from becoming permanently homeless
and getting them “back on track” as soon as possible. Mr Foley joined staff from Melbourne City Mission and Kids Under Cover at a two-bedroom unit being built in the backyard of a Carrum Downs family home. It will provide some much-needed living space at the home which is very over-crowded at the moment. “I’m delighted to announce the continuing funding for the Detour program, which is doing so much for local young people who are looking for assistance in acquiring stable, affordable accommodation,” he said. “All the evidence shows that, if people can be housed and given support early on – before homelessness becomes entrenched –
then they are much more likely to remain in a house. “I’d also like to thank Melbourne City Mission and Kids Under Cover for the wonderful work they are doing in the Frankston area.” Mr Foley said the projects were assisting about 2000 people each year: young people, families, older people and women and children escaping family violence. The state government recently announced an extra $1.9 million for the Detour program as part of the 2015-2016 state budget. It’s part of a $40.3 million package for seven Homelessness Innovation Action Projects across Victoria. Stephen Taylor
Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au A CORONER’S report into the drowning death of a boy at Seaford in 2012 has recommended swimming and water safety education should be mandatory at every Victorian primary school. Nine-year-old Bailey Patman, a pupil at Seaford Primary School, drowned on Thursday 19 January 2012 while playing offshore in the shallows with friends near Seaford Pier. He was accompanied by the father of one of his friends and four other children. Bailey was found floating face down in the water after his friends alerted the father that Bailey was missing. The father performed “mouth to mouth” resuscitation on the boy while dragging him closer to shore. A passing nurse helped administer CPR until paramedics arrived at about 8.30pm. Bailey was pronounced dead at 8.47pm. The children swimming with Bailey gave evidence indicating he “was not a good swimmer and that he did not like going into the deep water and generally stuck to the shallows. One child stated he [Bailey] could not swim at all.” Bailey joined Seaford Primary midway through 2011 and missed attending a swimming program held in April. He previously attended Harrisfield Primary School in Noble Park. Since Bailey’s death Seaford Primary has rescheduled swimming lessons to November and early December. Principal Michael Browne said this will “enable students to have been involved in an intensive swimming program conducted by trained instructors just prior to the time they would be more likely to be swimming at the beach and backyard swimming pools, and that this would
better prepare them for any dangers that they may encounter whilst swimming”. Bailey’s father, Michael Allan, stated his son had swimming lessons at Noble Park but “was not a very good swimmer”. Bailey’s mother, Kylee Patman, said he “was fearful of deep water and she was able to teach him how to ‘dog paddle’”. Coroner Caitlin English agreed with a Life Saving Victoria 2013 report Sink or Swim: the state of Victorian primary school children’s swimming ability recommending swimming and water safety be taught as “a compulsory skill” as part of every Victorian primary school’s curriculum. Life Saving Victoria CEO Nigel Taylor says the Coroner’s recommendation is an important way to address the current lack of swimming and water safety competency of Victorian primary school children. “Victoria has the lowest reported swimming and water safety competency levels in Australia, with teachers estimating that 60 per cent of students leave primary school unable to swim 50 metres continuously,” he said. “Drowning is highly preventable. Knowledge of survival swimming and basic water safety skills can significantly reduce the risk of drowning, enhance community safety and build resilient children.” There were 205 children aged 5-14 in Victorian involved in drowning incidents, including fatalities and hospitalisations, between 2000 and 2013. “We recommend children under 5 should be within arm’s reach at all times and children under 10 should always be in your sight,” Mr Taylor said.
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Level crossing works will continue on the Stony Point line until the end of June. The works include engineering, installation, testing and commissioning of new track infrastructure at level crossings between Frankston and Stony Point stations. During this time buses will continue to replace all trains, running as close as possible to the regular timetable.
an ks to Le aw n a Ba rra xt er So m er Ty ville ab b H as tin gs Bi tte rn M or ra do C rib o Po in St on t y Po in t
Stony Point line travel update
Expected completion: June 2015
For more info call 1800 800 007 or visit ptv.vic.gov.au Frankston Times 22 June 2015
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