Tag Search - 'Drowning Prevention'

Displaying 1 - 4 of 4

Refugees, migrants at greater risk of drowning are being urged to learn to swim

Thu, 29 Apr 21

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-06/drowning-prevention-strategies-tailored-to-at-risk-migrants/13212606 Teaching adult migrants and refugees how to swim should be part of welcoming new arrivals to help prevent tragic deaths, according to water safety experts. Sixteen people, all born overseas, have drowned in the past 10 years in the Coffs Harbour region of NSW, according to Royal Life Saving Australia. The Coffs Coast is a major resettlement area for migrants and refugees. "When you come to Australia you need three things, you need to get a job, get a drivers licence and learn to swim," he quoted.

Swimming lessons providing lifesaving skills for refugees in Logan

Wed, 27 Feb 19

An adult swimming program in Logan run by Metro South Health is breaking down cultural barriers and providing lifesaving skills to the region�s newest residents. Delivered in partnership with local businesses and the Logan City Council, the program was developed to improve the health and wellbeing of refugees in our community. Metro South Health Access and Capacity Building Team Leader, Sue Pager, said 120 participants have joined the classes and have reported a range of benefits. �Participants in the program are not only improving their physical health and wellbeing but also their mental health through enhanced social connectedness,� said Ms Pager. �Many of the participants have overcome enormous personal challenges to be in Australia. "Every effort has been made to ensure the lessons are accessible, enjoyable and culturally appropriate, with all female groups and suitable swimwear available.� Between 2005 � 2015, almost a third of all the people who drowned in Australia were born overseas � with 65% of the fatalities due to poor swimming skills*. �Swimming and beach culture are important parts of Australian life. The lessons are providing critical lifesaving skills for participants and their families to safely take part in activities with the community,� said Ms Pager. The program has also attracted community members who have lived in Australia for longer and but haven�t had the opportunity to learn to swim. Metro South Health Senior Health Promotion Officer, Edwin Lubari, arrived in Australia as a refugee more than 16 years ago and is learning to swim as part of the new program. �When I first arrived in Australia, getting an education and finding employment were my priorities. Learning to swim, and finding the resources to do it, just wasn�t as important to me,� said Mr Lubari. �My son is now two and a half years old. I want to be active with him and join with him swimming as a family.� Metro South Health has partnered with Aqua English to deliver the swimming lessons so the students are taught by a qualified English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD) teacher. The organisation was founded by mother and daughter team, Human Rights Lawyer, Sarah Scarce and TAFE EALD teacher, Julia Dixon. �The swimming pool provides a safe and relaxed classroom to learn the language around swimming, water safety and warning signs but also cultural English that can be used in their daily lives,� said Ms Scarce. In addition to the swimming lessons, ten swimming teachers will be trained as part of the program to continue working in the community and promote more inclusive workplaces. �We currently have five participants from a range of cultural background who are completing work experience towards formal TAFE qualifications as a swimming instructor.� The Metro South Health swimming program is being run in partnership with Aqua English, Logan City Council and Access Community Services. The program has been developed as part of the Queensland Government $10m Logan Community Health Action Plan (Logan CHAP) to improve the health of people in the region. *Source: A 10-year national study of overseas born drowning deaths. 2018. Royal Life Saving Society.

Aqua English Holds Social Autopsy in Logan after a Logan resident in the Chin Community Drowns in Albert River

Tue, 20 Dec 11

The Aqua English Project reacted as quickly as it could upon the request of the Chin community president and the Karini community President who were deeply distressed at the drowning death of a fellow community member in Logan on Friday 09th December 2011. ACCES Services Inc provided a meeting location in Room 7 of 6/2 Carmody Street, Logan Central and invitations were sent to all departments of The Queensland Government, all Aqua English Affiliates and Partners, as well as all Councillors for the Logan City Council and the Logan City Council and relevant departments. Aqua English was well represented, as were the Chin and Karini communities. The Queensland Government also made an important presence: Queensland Health, The Department of Communities, Local Government and Planning (Pool Safety), Multicultural Affairs Queensland (MAQ), and TAFE (TELLS Section). The Social Autopsy gave community members a chance to express what they were feeling and what they thought needed to be done. It also gave government departments the opportunity to listen and make suggestions as to what could be done. The Aqua English Project will hold a social autopsy after every drowning death in Queensland where possible, and the idea was sourced from the World Conference on Drowning Prevention, held in Vietnam in April this year. Many countries have adopted this approach when communities are adversely affected by drowning incidents.

The Aqua English Project: Official Speakers for the

Fri, 3 Dec 10

The Conference Organising and Thematic Review Committees received and reviewed over 250 Abstract submissions and were pleased to advise that The Aqua English Project submission �Barriers to Aquatic Participation for English as Second Language Speakers: An Australian Profile: The Exploration of a Preventative Drowning Strategy That's Working� has been accepted as an Oral Presentation. We will be presenting research and development findings from The Aqua English Project at the WORLD CONFERENCE ON DROWING PREVENTION 2011, Danang, Vietnam - Tuesday 10 to Friday 13 May 2011 http://www.worldconferenceondrowningprevention.org/