Life saving swim skills and education will be within reach for more people on the Mornington Peninsula, thanks to $100,000 Place Based Partnership funding awarded to Mornington Peninsula Shire, through a new national grant program.
The Royal Life Saving Society - Australia's WE SWIM program funding will mean Mornington Peninsula residents and visitors will have more opportunities to build swimming skills and be confident accessing our pools and beaches.
The program will offer subsidised swimming lessons, practical water safety education and information in multiple languages will help make these opportunities more accessible. There will also be a focus on multicultural communities who face barriers in taking part.
For our community, this means opportunities to learn about conditions at Peninsula beaches and waterways, understand water hazards and build knowledge to share with family and friends.
This new community water safety program, Water Safe Communities - Connecting People, Culture and Water' builds on the work of the Mornington Peninsula Safety Alliance and Cross-Council Water Safety Framework - a collaboration between Councils, leisure providers, community groups and Life Saving Victoria.
Belgravia Leisure through Yawa and Pelican Park Recreation Centre will bring the project to our local swimming facilities.
Life Saving Victoria will work with communities across the south east metro area to collaborate on safety messages, in partnership with multicultural community leaders.
By working with neighbouring councils, the project will help reach people before they travel to the Peninsula's coast and provide more consistent water safety information across council boundaries.
Mayor Stephen Batty said everyone in our community should have the opportunity to learn the skills to be safe in and around the water.
"This funding will help make swimming lessons and water safety education more accessible, so those in our communtiy who most need it can also enjoy our pools and beaches safely, Cr Batty said.
"By working with local providers and community organisations, we can help people who haven't been able to learn these vital skills feel supported."
Project partners are Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Bass Coast Shire Council, Cardinia Shire Council, City of Casey, Life Saving Victoria, Belgravia Leisure, Aligned Leisure, Enliven and Siri Guru Nanak Darbar, Officer.
The WE SWIM Multicultural Community Water Safety Program is funded by the Australian Government and led by Royal Life Saving Society - Australia.
