Swim My Way Fund

Developed by UNCLE TOBYS in partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society - Australia, SWIM MY WAY, is supporting a variety of swimming programs for Australians of all ages. It’s designed to promote access and inclusion to get more Aussies active, having fun and growing their confidence in the water. A massive thank you to UNCLE TOBYS and the Swim My Way fund for supporting the delivery of the following 3 programs: Watiyawanu School - Swim, Survive & Snorkel, Territorian Multicultural Families Learn to Swim Program and Darwin’s Adult Multicultural Learn to Swim Program.

The Watiyawanu School - Swim, Survive & Snorkel program targeted indigenous students from the remote community of Watiyawanu. Also identified as Mt Liebig, the community is situated 300km from Alice Springs, students are unable to access safe swimming areas around their community. The Watiyawanu School hopes for a group of students to attend a camp to the Great Barrier reef once restrictions on interstate travel have eased. The program will help to build their skills and knowledge in anticipation of this camp. To facilitate this Royal Life Saving NT, in conjunction with Alice Springs Aquatic Leisure Centre, held two water safety excursions for 27 indigenous students. Held in November and March, the students from years 4 to 6 made the three hour journey into Alice Springs to learn everything water safety. These intensive three day excursions included eight sessions of the Swim & Survive Program, a Pool Lifesaving Carnival, snorkelling skills and the delivery of CPR awareness to all students. Working with our Swim & Survive Partner in Alice Springs, ASALC, the funding provided a safe, fun and well-structured water safety program to children who are not normally exposed to safe aquatic environments.

The Territorian Multicultural Families Learn to Swim Program was conducted at Parap and Palmerston pools. This allowed for participants from lower socioeconomic families across Darwin & Palmerston to gain access to the program. The twelve lesson Swim & Survive program throughout October and November had participants of varying age groups and multicultural backgrounds. 41 parents, children and extended family members received an opportunity to participate in their first swimming and water safety program. Swimming skills, supervision of children in and around water, restricting access, water familiarisation and basic resuscitation information were all key components of the program. A big thank you to the Multicultural Council of NT, Catholic Care NT, Palmerston Child and Family Centre & Playgroup NT for their support to make this program happen.

The Darwin Adult Multicultural Learn to Swim program was held in Darwin over the months of June and July 2021. Teaming up with Charles Darwin University and the Melaleuca Refugee Centre, 37 adults from multicultural backgrounds, mostly from the Indian and Nepalese communities participated in the learn to swim program. Throughout the six week program these adults learnt essential components of personal survival and water safety, finishing the program with CPR awareness. Several swimmers excelled through the program, starting at Level 1 and finishing at Level 3 in the Swim & Survive Program. Extended family members also benefited from these programs as they observed from pool side and gained knowledge of water safety knowledge without entering the water.