Six thousand Hawke’s Bay primary school students aged from 5 years to 13 years will get free access to a tailored Learn to Swim and Water Safety pilot programme this year.

The Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness Centre Trust (HBCFCT) with funding from Royston Health Trust have created the free pilot programme that combines learn to swim with water safety skills.

HBCFCT Commercial and Partnerships Manager Greg Howie says research has found that there’s a significant gap and therefore a risk of life by not teaching broader water safety skills at the same time as learning to swim.

“We know that many children get taught to swim in a pool to varying confidence levels but aren’t taught the risks of swimming, especially in open waters such as the sea, rivers and lakes, all of which Hawke’s Bay is renowned for.”

New Zealand has a high fatal drowning rate compared to other Western nations such as Australia, Canada and the UK. In 2021 there was 90 recreational (intending to be in the water) and non-recreational (no intention of being in the water) preventable drowning fatalities nationally and six in Hawke’s Bay. This summer has a been marred in New Zealand by some tragic drownings. 

Primary and intermediate schools across Hawke’s Bay have been invited to participate in the pilot programme, with the first intake at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre starting in the first school term. Already over 3,000 students are enrolled. 

HBCFCT Swim School Manager Harshi Dassanayake says the pilot programme provides peace of mind for parents and will teach children to understand risks with swimming in open water. “They learn different arm strokes, and are taught how to keep themselves and others safe in and around water.”

Children will receive eight lessons over eight weeks with a focus on being comfortable underwater, floating independently along with basic front and back stroke techniques.

All students will receive a National Water Safety Achievement Certificate and students starting the programme in Year 3 will get an achievement for five years up to year 8. It is hoped that the one-year pilot project will become a multi-year programme. 

Royston Health Trust chair Jacqui Gray says the programme is an important investment that will save children’s lives now, but also as they grow into adults. Royston Health Trust is contributing up to $400,000 to the pilot programme. 

“By making learn to swim and water safety free, it ensures that families that struggle to afford learn to swim classes for their children now have free access.”

Schools are asked to enrol by emailing a registration of interest to contact Ally Hislop [email protected]

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