Over the last 12 months, La Trobe Sport has helped in facilitating more than 500 international students receiving vital water safety education through a suite of educational and practical sessions facilitated by Life Saving Victoria, with the aim to ensure safety, wellbeing and enjoyment of the vast Australian coastlines and inland waterways.
Programs have included ‘Meet a Lifeguard’ during International Meet and Greet sessions and Beach Safety Excursions to Torquay and Port Melbourne beaches. For many students, this excursion was their first visit to a coastal location, proving invaluable for their understanding of the many risks associated with open water.
Spreading the message of water safety regionally has also had a significant focus, with Medibank providing funding for regional international students to participate in adult learn to swim programs.
La Trobe Sport has established links with local health and leisure centres that offer adult learn to swim programs, connecting students into these centres and supporting them through their enrolments. Students also received $50 vouchers to put towards enhancing their water safety education, including the purchase of their own swimwear, swimming caps, goggles and aquatic memberships to continue practising their skills at their local leisure centre.
As one of the most at-risk groups for fatal and non-fatal drowning, La Trobe Sport will continue to provide as many opportunities for La Trobe international students to access and participate in Learn to Swim and Water Safety programs. Funding through Medibank has allowed La Trobe Sport to lower as many barriers to entry as possible, and partnering with local leisure providers regionally has proven an effective and meaningful way to connect La Trobe students to the community.
The funded learn to swim program will recommence for all metro and regional international students in late April, in line with the Victorian school terms.
For more information on these April water safety programs, reach out to La Trobe Sport Commercial Programs Manager, Jessica Serpiello: J.Serpiello@latrobe.edu.au
