Last weekend at the Cardinia Life aquatic and sports facility in Pakenham, 20 Indian adults took their first steps into the pool, marking their initial foray into swimming.
Motivated by the Gurdwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Officer, these participants are part of a pilot project led by Harpreet Singh Kandra aimed at introducing water safety to a community grappling with a rising number of drowning incidents in Australia.
According to Royal Life Saving Australia, approximately 288 people drown in Australia each year, with about one in four being born overseas.
Kandra, a community volunteer and senior lecturer in water engineering at Federation University, stresses the importance of community ownership in addressing this issue.
“Learning this life-saving skill is crucial,” he says.
To address this, Kandra developed the ‘Safely Engaging with Water Program,’ which goes beyond basic swimming lessons. The program kicked off with the first 20 participants on 27 July at Cardinia Life.
“Water is fun, water is therapy, swimming is exercise, and a connection with water is a vital part of the Aussie lifestyle,” Kandra explains.
He notes that many first-generation migrants, who are adults, lack swimming skills because they come from backgrounds where swimming is not part of the curriculum.
“They come from water-stressed countries and often can’t afford swimming lessons. There’s also a lack of connection with water. We’re working to build that connection so people can see the benefits of knowing how to swim, such as water therapy and enjoyable holidays.”
The pilot program operates on a co-contribution model. Lesson fees are subsidised by Aligned Leisure Cardinia Life, with participants covering the remaining costs. The program aims for high attendance rates and will conclude with a simple graduation ceremony.
“The package has encouraged people to find time and sign up. Initially aiming for 10 participants, we now have 19 enrolled. We’ll offer two 30-minute lessons each Saturday for men and Sundays for women,” adds Kandra.
The goal is to achieve high attendance rates, and a simple graduation ceremony will be held at the end of the program.
In positive news, the program has seen a strong response from females, reflecting their dedication to safety and eagerness to learn.
However, key challenges include convincing people of the importance of learning to swim and overcoming scepticism about adult learners. While cost was a potential barrier, the subsidies have mitigated this issue.
A high-action team from Aligned Leisure Cardinia Life, led by Paige and Paula, along with David Holland and Andrew Priestley from Life Saving Victoria (LSV), has been instrumental in collaborating on and guiding this program, says Kandra.
Future plans include community awareness sessions with LSV and a program for multicultural kids to encourage them to consider becoming lifeguards.
Kandra, who is participating in the program himself, aims for the 10 sessions to help remove the fear of water and build understanding of its strength, marking a significant first step.
While most programs focus on teaching swimming to adults, this one is tailored for multicultural communities where specialised programs have been lacking. The trainer-to-participant ratio is set at one to five.
Kandra hopes to expand this initiative to more suburbs and encourages people to reach out to build a network of like-minded volunteers dedicated to effecting change.
He advises other community leaders to avoid reinventing the wheel, consult with experienced organisers, and ensure community commitment to the program, as those who learn in the first phase are expected to become role models for others.
“We want the 281 drowning deaths we saw in 2023 to become history,” Kandra concludes.
The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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