This is What Community Water Safety Looks Like

Safely Engaging with Water is an aquatics and water safety education initiative that creates a safe, inclusive environment for adults from multicultural communities to learn about water safety and develop basic swimming skills. 

The program aims to help participants overcome fear and anxiety associated with water while reducing the risk of drowning. Delivered across Victorian pools, the program has been hugely successful, created by the Gurdwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar in Officer. 

The community organisation has been supporting community members from a mix of cultures to participate in the program for some time now, thanks to funding from many partners. This time, Gurdwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar is taking water safety deeper into the heart of the community by engaging faith leaders to learn swimming and become role models for others. 

For their first session of this latest 10-week learn to swim program, the group were joined by guests the Honourable Assistant Minister Matt Thistlethwaite and Royal Life Saving – Australia CEO Justin Scarr, alongside key partners including Reclink Australia Safely Engaging with Water is an aquatics and water safety education initiative  that creates a safe, inclusive environment for adults from multicultural communities to learn about water safety and develop basic swimming skills.

Sharing news of the newest participants, Dr Harpreet Singh Kandra said this new module is more than swimming lessons.

"By seeing trusted faith leaders enter the pool, learn a life-saving skill and champion water safety, more families can feel encouraged to overcome fear, build confidence around water and take the first step towards safer lives." 

Thank you to everyone involved for your commitment and courage to make a change. Together, we're building a safer and stronger community around water.