Learning to swim is an important lifesaving skill that all of us should learn.
Swimming lessons can begin from as young as 6 months of age, focusing on water familiarisation and floating.
Children from a young age should learn how to float or get to the edge of a pool should they ever fall in. Aside from safety, swimming has many other benefits including:
- Helps build strength
- Promotes problem solving initiatives
- Supports the development of visual-motor skills
- Increases confidence and self-esteem
- Improves and supports socials skills
The KARI Foundation offers two swimming programs throughout the year:
- Parents & Bub’s – Designed to offer free swimming lessons to Aboriginal children from 4 months to 3 years of age. This program aims to increase water safety, confidence and to teach water wise skills, setting the foundations for early stages of safe swimming skills for both parents and their children.
- Learn to Swim – Designed to offer free swimming lessons to Aboriginal children from ages 4 to 16 years old. This program aims to increase water safety, confidence and to teach water wise skills. Children who participate in this program have the opportunity to learn, enhance and build on their current swimming capabilities.
The NSW Government also has its ‘First Lap’ swim program. Under the ‘First Lap’ program, eligible children can access a $100 voucher for swimming lessons with an approved provider.
Families can apply for the First Lap vouchers from 1 December, through Services NSW.