Geelong council is offering free swimming lessons to help more kids improve their skills in the water.
People of all ages who enrol at the City-operated Webstar’s Swim School before Sunday, May 4 will receive two free swimming lessons.
The offer comes following research by Royal Life Saving Australia (RLSA), which revealed an Australia-wide fall in young children’s swimming skills.
RSLA’s report found it likely that the COVID-19 pandemic was a significant factor in the decline, with an estimated 10 million children’s swimming lessons missed between 2020 and 2022.
The result was “a cohort of children and young people who are now unable to swim, making them extremely vulnerable to drowning”.
With drowning deaths increasing by 14 per cent last summer, Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said action was needed to improve swimming standards.
“Our beautiful city is home to spectacular coastline and other major waterways, but that brings water safety risks,” Mayor Kontelj said.
“It’s so important that we all play our part to teach young people water safety, and I’m proud of the work our City’s swim instructors do every day.”
Chair of the Sports and Recreation portfolio Councillor Eddy Kontelj encouraged people to sign up.
“Webstar’s Swim School has many members who are getting the benefits of regular lessons, but the Royal Life Saving Australia report is clear – we need to get water safety education out there even more,” Cr Kontelj said.
“That’s why I’m proud that the City is offering two free lessons to new members. To parents, I say, if you’ve been putting off teaching your children to swim, now is the time.”
Parents can enrol their children online at bit.ly/WSS-2WeeksFree2025 or in person at Bellarine Aquatic & Sports Centre, Leisurelink, Norlane ARC or Splashdown.
