SwimCARE
SwimCARE - community caring swim schools
Swim Australia launched its SwimCARE program in 2009. The aim is to provide resources to assist particular needy 'projects' to operate.
The areas of focus are:
- Research
- Access and Equity
- Drowning Prevention
To date, the following projects have been supported:
Driving the fund-raising and industry access needs, with Kids Alive, of Griffith University's four year study into the benefits of swimming and water safety lessons during early childhood. Social capital development is being investigated.
In regard to Access and Equity, Swim Australia:
- has donated and coordinated further donations of various items of equipment necessary for lessons to remote and indigenous centres around the Gulf region and Halls Creek, and
- likewise, donations of equipment for lesson programs in East Timor, Vietnam and Gambia.
- provided a range of resources to enable ASCTA to develop a world-leading accreditation course for swimming teachers of learners with disability.
- is partnered with Aqua English to provide swimming and water safety lessons to non-English speaking new migrants.
- is providing logistical support to the Freedom Pool Project in India.
Swim Australia has strong links with Kids Alive and the Samuel Morris Foundation. Further, in support of drowning prevention, Swim Australia has provided the development funding and administrative resources for the SwimSAFER program.
The plan is to establish a fund-raising program that will greatly enhance the objectives of SwimCARE. Significantly, a guiding principle is that no money donated will be spent by Swim Australia on the administration/management of SwimCARE.
SwimECO
SwimECO - environmentally friendly swim schools
Swim Australia formulated it's SwimECO program in 2009. The aim is to assist Swim Schools become more environmentally friendly.
Activities to date include:
- regular information and tips in SwimUPDATE
- articles in SwimFILES
- articles into SwimLIBRARY
- information sharing and networking at SwimFEST
- annual "Most Environmentally Swim School" Award
- inaugural Better Water Seminars during 2011 - focusing on reducing chemical use, water wastage and power consumption
- partnering with alfaQLD and the Queensland Government's Environment Department to design energy audit systems for Swim Schools that can then be use nationally.
The SwimECO Leadership Team consists of:
Bill McDonald, Seadragonz Swim School, WA
Lari McDonald, Seadragonz Swim School, WA
Peter Willis, aquaLOGAN Aquatic Centres, QLD
