Water Skills for Life program receives a boost from NZCT

NZCT has awarded a grant of $80,000 to Swimming New Zealand (SNZ) for salaries for regionally based education advisors to deliver Water Skills for Life program to primary schools with swimming pools.

Head of Education and Water Safety Davin Bray said "SNZ is the National Sports Organisation for competitive pool and open water swimming in New Zealand. SNZ also has an active role in the promotion of water safety, learn to swim, education and certification of swimming instructors, and swim schools."

"We are committed to providing essential water safety education to primary school teachers and children throughout New Zealand via its Water Skills for Life program (WSFL) utilizing a team of passionate Water Safety and Education Advisors located throughout the country. This year we will train over 1,500 teachers to deliver WSFL to over 50,000 primary school children. WSFL provides life long learning to primary school children that will help in decreasing the drowning toll in NZ."

SNZ applies to NZCT yearly to enable us to deliver more education to the regions. Swimming lessons are expensive and for many children, the only aquatic experience they receive growing up is what is taught at primary school. Our aim is to upskill teachers to ensure that children receive the best possible aquatic education growing up.

SNZ is also a core member of Water Safety New Zealand, it provides training and support to those wishing to teach swimming and water safety skills, including parents, school teachers, swim teachers, and members of community groups, to ensure all New Zealanders are able to learn skills to enjoy the water safely.

"New Zealand’s drowning rate is high and we need to continue to do what is possible to reduce this tragic toll. Our ability to deliver this program depends hugely on the generosity of funders such as NZCT whose support enables SNZ to put more staff on the ground and therefore educate more children," Bray adds.