More Territory children living with disabilities will have access to swimming lessons and para sport opportunities thanks to a new funding commitment by the Finocchiaro Government.
A $50,000 grant will enable Swimming NT to appoint a dedicated all-abilities coach, in a move that the Minister for People, Sport and Culture, Jinson Charls, says will help more young Territorians learn to swim and pursue sport at every level.
“Having a dedicated all-abilities coach in the Territory means more young people with a disability will learn to swim, gain confidence, and grow their skills in the water,” Mr Charls said. “We are building clear pathways for people with a disability, from learning to swim to competing at elite levels.”
The announcement comes alongside the ongoing rollout of the Swimming in Schools program, which aims to ensure every child in a Northern Territory Government primary school learns water safety and basic swimming skills. According to Minister for Education and Training, Jo Hersey, over 5,500 students from 50 schools have already taken part in 2025, with 73 more schools expected to join in the next two terms.
“The Swimming in Schools program, backed by our annual $3 million investment, delivers cost of living relief for Territory families while promoting essential lifesaving skills,” Mrs Hersey said.
The program has been especially valuable for remote and regional students, where swimming access can be more challenging. In some instances, land-based water safety classes are delivered first, with practical swimming sessions arranged later when access becomes possible.
At Amanbidji School, where there’s no local pool, students and staff travelled to Kununurra in Western Australia to take part in the program. In Galiwin’ku, students from Shepherdson College are being included in sessions through urban school excursions. The Government said these kinds of flexible models have helped reach students who might otherwise miss out.
The broader effort to expand swimming and aquatic access aligns with the CLP’s pledge to deliver “certainty and security” across the Territory, and supports the development of para-athletes alongside broader health and safety goals.
The announcement was made at a training session for the national Dolphins swim team, who are currently using Darwin as their training base ahead of the World Championships.
Rohan Taylor, Head Coach of the Dolphins, praised the Northern Territory as a high-performance training location and said the team’s time in Darwin wasn’t just about physical preparation.
“Choosing Darwin as our pre-World Championship base is a powerful endorsement of the facilities, climate and community here,” he said.
“The location is a short drop into Singapore, the climate is perfect for our preparation, and with support from the City of Darwin, the Territory Government and the Federal Government, the NT has become a premium destination for elite athletes.
“And for us, it’s also an opportunity to engage and connect with the local community. Hopefully we can inspire dreams and showcase the pathway of becoming a Dolphin.”
Taylor added that the team is beginning its build-up to the LA Olympics and believes the preparation phase in Darwin will set the tone for what’s to come.
“This very young team is going to learn what is needed on the global stage in Singapore, and the journey has started here in the Top End,” he said.
The combined focus on community inclusion, elite training, and swimming education marks a broader ambition to make aquatic sport accessible to all Territorians—from beginners to potential Olympians.
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