Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We know that families in the Northern Territory can apply
for another round of sport and Learn to Swim vouchers
from tomorrow. It helps to offset the costs of kids' activities.
And we also know that children aged five and over
enrolled in urban schools are eligible for the one hundred
dollars sports voucher every six months that can be used
with more than three hundred approved sports. But as well
(00:22):
as that, families with kids under five can access to
one hundred dollars Learn to Swim vouchers each year. Now
joining me in the studio is Royal Life Saving Enties
Operations manager Laura with Us. Good morning to you, Laura,
Good morning Katie.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Yeah, lovely to have you in the studio. Now do
you know if there's been a strong uptake of people
and families getting their kids to those learn to Swim
lessons as a result of those vouchers rolling out, Well.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I can speak from a Royal Life Saving perspective, YEV
last year so there well, the twenty three to twenty
four uptake and the twenty four to twenty five uptake,
we are seen eight hundred and eighty seven families come
through our doors utilizing their sport vouchers. Wow, and seven
hundred and twenty four families coming through utilizing their learned
(01:10):
to Swim vouchers, so they had From our perspective, there
has been a great uptake and it's just amazing to
see families actually want to invest, with the help of
the government scheme, invest in their water safety journey with
their little ones.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
I think it's such an important thing to do. Like
I grew up in Queensland in a family my dad
was a swim coach. I had to teach learn to swim.
I like, I could not stress enough the importance of
kids being safe around water. So I think it's a
really fantastic initiative that we're able to get some of that,
you know, like to get a little bit of help
to be able so that everybody can afford to do
(01:45):
that right.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Oh. Absolutely, And it's just it's we're really grateful that
the government invests in something like this. Yeah, because the
water safety journey starts from you know, six months, so
it's really important that the government one has seen the
importance of this life skill but also allows and contributes
to families accessing or better accessing these vital programs.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
From your perspective, how just how vital is it that
families do access these programs from quite a young age.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
So globally, drowning is the leading cause of accidental deaths
for children between the zero and four age groups, So
it is vital that we start as soon as possible
the water safety journey. We have a lifestyle around water,
so it's something that one needs to be taught, but
two it's a skill set that's going to set children, teenagers,
(02:39):
even young adults up for life.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Yeah, you're spot on there, and it's something I think
we sort of forget growing up in a country like Australia,
where you know, water is part of our life. It's
part of our lifestyle. You go out fishing, you go swimming,
whatever it might be that you do, but literally everybody
is involved in it. And if you not only know
how to swim, but no how to be safe around water,
(03:02):
it's like it just it sets you up with those
good habits forever.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Absolutely, because drowning is preventable. So in utilizing all of
the key actions, it's not just learning how to swim,
but it's also knowing and receiving education on what does
it mean to be water safe and you know, using
those main four key actions together is how we stay
safe around water.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Well, we do know as well that there was an
absolute tragedy just a couple of weeks ago at a
home in Palmerston where a little one's life was lost
as a result of a drowning. Like what are those
key things that we can do to keep our little
kids safe?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
So Royal Life Saving First Week sends deepest condolences to
the family. It is an absolute tragedy. But working together
with four key actions is how we keep the little
one safe and the first one is supervision. Nothing can
replace it always being within arm's reach of little ones
around water. We also need to restrict access because we
(04:03):
don't just have backyard pools that we you know, visit
and recreate, recreating. We've got amazing waterways in the territory,
so making sure that we're restricting the access and you know,
keeping within arms reach. It's also the water familiarization, so
that starts at home, it starts with the parents, but
then we can formalize it and you know, bring in
(04:25):
structured swimming lessons and then it's knowing CPR in the
events of an accident, you want to have that skill
set to be able to hopefully save somebody's life. So
combining those four key actions is how we stay safe
from our water.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
So, Laura, I mean, you know, the CPR part and
the supervision is obviously parents and grandparents whoever might be
looking after children. When you talk about some of the
other things that parents need to do when it comes
to water safety and even you know, like families, grandparents water,
some of those things that we've got to be really
aware of, so restrict access.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
You know, we have backyard pools, so we have a
fence and we have a gate, but it's those other
obscure items like the dog water bowl or the clamshell
pul that you know, we may have used it in
the wet season, but now it's just sitting there unused.
So those sorts of things, if they're not in use,
we always recommend please put them away because we know
(05:21):
in the territory rainfall it will fill up that endy
cavity and turn it into a water swam. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
The other time I always worry about kids is at
like at birth day parties and things like that that
are at pools where it feels like everybody's supervising, but
no one kind of is if you get what I
mean absolutely, you know, like if there's not an allocated
parent that's actually on, I'm in the pool with them,
Judy and has or like really one parent with twenty
(05:48):
kids is not enough. You need a few parents keeping
an eye on those kids, and if they're little, you
need one parent per child just.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
About absolutely, So you hit the nail on the head there.
Because communication is key. There needs to be a plan
when there is going to be a gathering around water.
Who's watching who, at what time and at what station
is X, y and Z responsible for? Because drowning is quick,
it is silent, and it happens in an instant. So
it's really important that that there's a plan in place
(06:17):
when it comes to supervising children around water.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
How are our numbers tracking in the Northern Territory when
it comes to those drownings.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
So for the twenty four National Drowning Report NT recorded
five fatal drownings. One hundred percent of those drowning deaths
were aged between eighteen years and seventy four. So in
terms of the zero to four and even will go
zero to twelve year old age bracket. I. You know,
(06:44):
it just goes to show that when schemes like this,
the learn to Swim and the Sport voucher are being
utilized to access water and see swimming and water sector programs,
there is a contribution to these numbers not looking as
dire as what they had been, say, ten years ago.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
This is the thing. It sets you up for life,
you know, it truly does. And once you know how
to swim, and once you have all those water safety
measures in your brain and you know what you should
be doing, it helps you across the board for a
very long time.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Absolutely, it's not just the physical aspect of fitness. It's
the bonding experience that happens with mums and you know,
little bubs. But it's also the water safety education and
as children get older, it's about them being able to
make responsible choices when it comes to what they're doing around.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Oh, Laura, I'd forgotten about when my little ones were
tiny and learning to swim, and how snugly they are
in the water as well.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
They love so beautiful to see and it is. It's
a bonding experience, it's a social experience and it's just
fantastic that the government really invests it into the water
safety journey of families and the anti.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Yeah, it is good. Well, Laura, lovely to speak to
you this morning. Laura with US Royal Royal Life Saving
NTIES Operations Manager, Thanks so much for your time, Thanks
for having me. Thank you.
We know that families in the Northern Territory can apply
for another round of sport and Learn to Swim vouchers
from tomorrow. It helps to offset the costs of kids' activities.
And we also know that children aged five and over
enrolled in urban schools are eligible for the one hundred
dollars sports voucher every six months that can be used
with more than three hundred approved sports. But as well
(00:22):
as that, families with kids under five can access to
one hundred dollars Learn to Swim vouchers each year. Now
joining me in the studio is Royal Life Saving Enties
Operations manager Laura with Us. Good morning to you, Laura,
Good morning Katie.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Yeah, lovely to have you in the studio. Now do
you know if there's been a strong uptake of people
and families getting their kids to those learn to Swim
lessons as a result of those vouchers rolling out, Well.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I can speak from a Royal Life Saving perspective, YEV
last year so there well, the twenty three to twenty
four uptake and the twenty four to twenty five uptake,
we are seen eight hundred and eighty seven families come
through our doors utilizing their sport vouchers. Wow, and seven
hundred and twenty four families coming through utilizing their learned
(01:10):
to Swim vouchers, so they had From our perspective, there
has been a great uptake and it's just amazing to
see families actually want to invest, with the help of
the government scheme, invest in their water safety journey with
their little ones.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
I think it's such an important thing to do. Like
I grew up in Queensland in a family my dad
was a swim coach. I had to teach learn to swim.
I like, I could not stress enough the importance of
kids being safe around water. So I think it's a
really fantastic initiative that we're able to get some of that,
you know, like to get a little bit of help
to be able so that everybody can afford to do
(01:45):
that right.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Oh. Absolutely, And it's just it's we're really grateful that
the government invests in something like this. Yeah, because the
water safety journey starts from you know, six months, so
it's really important that the government one has seen the
importance of this life skill but also allows and contributes
to families accessing or better accessing these vital programs.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
From your perspective, how just how vital is it that
families do access these programs from quite a young age.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
So globally, drowning is the leading cause of accidental deaths
for children between the zero and four age groups, So
it is vital that we start as soon as possible
the water safety journey. We have a lifestyle around water,
so it's something that one needs to be taught, but
two it's a skill set that's going to set children, teenagers,
(02:39):
even young adults up for life.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Yeah, you're spot on there, and it's something I think
we sort of forget growing up in a country like Australia,
where you know, water is part of our life. It's
part of our lifestyle. You go out fishing, you go swimming,
whatever it might be that you do, but literally everybody
is involved in it. And if you not only know
how to swim, but no how to be safe around water,
(03:02):
it's like it just it sets you up with those
good habits forever.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Absolutely, because drowning is preventable. So in utilizing all of
the key actions, it's not just learning how to swim,
but it's also knowing and receiving education on what does
it mean to be water safe and you know, using
those main four key actions together is how we stay
safe around water.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Well, we do know as well that there was an
absolute tragedy just a couple of weeks ago at a
home in Palmerston where a little one's life was lost
as a result of a drowning. Like what are those
key things that we can do to keep our little
kids safe?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
So Royal Life Saving First Week sends deepest condolences to
the family. It is an absolute tragedy. But working together
with four key actions is how we keep the little
one safe and the first one is supervision. Nothing can
replace it always being within arm's reach of little ones
around water. We also need to restrict access because we
(04:03):
don't just have backyard pools that we you know, visit
and recreate, recreating. We've got amazing waterways in the territory,
so making sure that we're restricting the access and you know,
keeping within arms reach. It's also the water familiarization, so
that starts at home, it starts with the parents, but
then we can formalize it and you know, bring in
(04:25):
structured swimming lessons and then it's knowing CPR in the
events of an accident, you want to have that skill
set to be able to hopefully save somebody's life. So
combining those four key actions is how we stay safe
from our water.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
So, Laura, I mean, you know, the CPR part and
the supervision is obviously parents and grandparents whoever might be
looking after children. When you talk about some of the
other things that parents need to do when it comes
to water safety and even you know, like families, grandparents water,
some of those things that we've got to be really
aware of, so restrict access.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
You know, we have backyard pools, so we have a
fence and we have a gate, but it's those other
obscure items like the dog water bowl or the clamshell
pul that you know, we may have used it in
the wet season, but now it's just sitting there unused.
So those sorts of things, if they're not in use,
we always recommend please put them away because we know
(05:21):
in the territory rainfall it will fill up that endy
cavity and turn it into a water swam. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
The other time I always worry about kids is at
like at birth day parties and things like that that
are at pools where it feels like everybody's supervising, but
no one kind of is if you get what I
mean absolutely, you know, like if there's not an allocated
parent that's actually on, I'm in the pool with them,
Judy and has or like really one parent with twenty
(05:48):
kids is not enough. You need a few parents keeping
an eye on those kids, and if they're little, you
need one parent per child just.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
About absolutely, So you hit the nail on the head there.
Because communication is key. There needs to be a plan
when there is going to be a gathering around water.
Who's watching who, at what time and at what station
is X, y and Z responsible for? Because drowning is quick,
it is silent, and it happens in an instant. So
it's really important that that there's a plan in place
(06:17):
when it comes to supervising children around water.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
How are our numbers tracking in the Northern Territory when
it comes to those drownings.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
So for the twenty four National Drowning Report NT recorded
five fatal drownings. One hundred percent of those drowning deaths
were aged between eighteen years and seventy four. So in
terms of the zero to four and even will go
zero to twelve year old age bracket. I. You know,
(06:44):
it just goes to show that when schemes like this,
the learn to Swim and the Sport voucher are being
utilized to access water and see swimming and water sector programs,
there is a contribution to these numbers not looking as
dire as what they had been, say, ten years ago.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
This is the thing. It sets you up for life,
you know, it truly does. And once you know how
to swim, and once you have all those water safety
measures in your brain and you know what you should
be doing, it helps you across the board for a
very long time.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Absolutely, it's not just the physical aspect of fitness. It's
the bonding experience that happens with mums and you know,
little bubs. But it's also the water safety education and
as children get older, it's about them being able to
make responsible choices when it comes to what they're doing around.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Oh, Laura, I'd forgotten about when my little ones were
tiny and learning to swim, and how snugly they are
in the water as well.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
They love so beautiful to see and it is. It's
a bonding experience, it's a social experience and it's just
fantastic that the government really invests it into the water
safety journey of families and the anti.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Yeah, it is good. Well, Laura, lovely to speak to
you this morning. Laura with US Royal Royal Life Saving
NTIES Operations Manager, Thanks so much for your time, Thanks
for having me. Thank you.
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