Splash of pool safety

Springvale students are safer in the water thanks to a whole-school swimming program.
Dandenong Oasis hosted an inclusive swimming program with Springvale Rise Primary School during term three to ensure student safety in and around water.
Most of the school’s 550-plus students took part in the eight-day YMCA swimming lesson program and on Thursday 17 August celebrated completing it.
Springvale Rise is one of the most culturally diverse schools in the state with about 83 per cent of students with origins outside Australia and 38 languages spoken.
YMCA Aquatics co-ordinator Melissa Watson said the program was vital to raise the awareness of water safety among young members of the local culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community.
“Greater Dandenong is the most culturally diverse municipality in Victoria and the second most diverse in Australia, so we place a great emphasis on educating new arrivals on safety in and around water,” she said.
“A lot of those attending the swimming program have had very little experience around water, so the skills they learn are potentially life-saving.”
Principal Debbie Cottier said it was the first time the whole school had joined the program and the whole school community had embrace it as a high priority.
“A lot of our students have not had the opportunity to learn to swim and we regard this as very important,” she said.
“We’ve received great support from parents and the wider school community who are committed to the swimming program.”