Education Department & Royal Life Saving Society to jointly manage holiday swimming lessons

9/4/99
The Education Department of WA and the Royal Life Saving Society Australia (WA branch) have finalised contract negotiations which will see them jointly manage vacation swimming lessons and teacher training programs around the State.
Education Minister Colin Barnett announced today that the two groups would work together to provide quality water safety and swimming education programs from this year.
The Education Department will continue to own and monitor the swimming and training programs.
Mr Barnett said the RLSSA's proven track record as a respected water safety education organisation, together with its plans to improve the programs, made it an excellent choice to assist the Education Department.
"The Royal Life Saving Society has given a commitment to provide the same level of access to vacation swimming for children around the State and will uphold excellent safety standards, as well as make improvements in a number of areas," Mr Barnett said.
"The society plans to give parents better access to information about lessons via the telephone and Internet, increase participation rates through improved enrolment practices and provide progress reports and better resources for teachers.
"The cost of lessons will be maintained at their present level and the Government has ensured that any increase will require permission from the Education Department.
"Children with special needs, such as those with a disability, will continue to have the same level of access to the swimming programs, while all teachers currently employed under the Vacswim program will have the opportunity to retain their positions.
"In fact, incentives such as a higher rate of pay will be offered to teachers who undertake further training and earn extra qualifications."
Mr Barnett said the rate of participation in vacation swimming classes had been declining from around 78,000 in the early 1990s, to around 60,000 this year.
He said fresh ideas about the program would hopefully see participation rates start to rise.
The Royal Life Saving Society is a non-profit, community-based organisation which aims to promote safe participation in water related activity through the provision of educational programs in swimming, water safety, personal survival, lifesaving, lifeguarding and resuscitation.
The society has been in operation in Australia since 1894 and is one of the largest water safety and lifesaving education organisations in the world, being active in more than 40 countries.
Mr Barnett said the initial contract between the Education Department and the Royal Life Saving Society was for one year.
Media contact: Justine Whittome, (08) 9222 9699