Free Water Safety Sessions

Northern Territory children under five can take advantage of this FREE NT Government initiative. The program is aimed at reducing the high rate of drownings in the Northern Territory, the Water Safety Awareness Program consists of five practical training sessions designed for young children and their parents or guardians. The five sessions focus on basic water safety awareness and resuscitation skills.

1. General Information
2. Remote Area Program
3. Session Providers
4. How to access the program
5. What will be taught in the lessons?
6. Frequently Asked Questions

Download an Information/Registration Form (pdf 156Kb) or Register Online Now.

1. General Information

The program is administered on behalf of the NT Government by the Royal Life Saving Society in conjunction with the Northern Territory Water Safety Advisory Council. The program consists of five sessions and includes one resuscitation session and four in the pool sessions designed to develop a child’s confidence and ability in water and teach general water safety awareness and rescue techniques. Both parents and children are involved in the sessions. The program is provided FREE to all Territorians until all available vouchers have been used. Each child may only access the program once.

The program may be accessed through a rural/urban provider or though the remote area program. Please indicate on the registration form which program you wish to access.

2. Remote Area Program

The Remote Area Program includes a video which covers vital elements of two sessions. This will provide parents and guardians who do not have access to registered providers with an initial information resource which may be supplemented with further sessions in a town centre or when a registered provider visits their locality. Royal Life Saving Society will visit the majority of communities that have access to an aquatic venue.

Free instructor training courses are also being offered to encourage people in remote communities to gain qualifications to teach the water safety awareness program to young children and their parents.

For more information please contact Royal Life Saving Society on (08) 8981 5036 to discuss options available in your area.

3. Session Providers

When you register you will receive an information pack that will contain a list of the registered session providers. Providers are available in the following centres: Nhulunbuy, Katherine, Darwin, Palmerston, Batchelor, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, Jabiru & Defence Establishments (Defcom members only).

4. How to access the program

Step One
Fill in a registration form for each child and post to GPO Box 4621 DARWIN NT 0801. (Make sure you tick if you wish to access the urban/rural or the remote area program).

Step Two
If eligible you will receive an information pack which will include the five vouchers and a list of session providers.

Step Three
Read the information pack and select a session provider you would like to use.

Step Four
Contact your selected provider and enrol in a class.

Step Five
Give the voucher to the swimming provider when you attend each session with your child.

Registration forms
The registration form can be downloaded (pdf 156Kb) or obtained from the following branches:

1. Water Safety Branch, Tel: 1300 301 059.
2. Royal Life Saving Society Australia NT Branch, Tel: (08) 8981 5036

• Public swimming pools.
• Childcare centres.
• Occasional advertising in regional newspapers.
• Community Health Centres.
• Palmerston Information Centre.
• Home Ideas Centre, Jape Homemaker Village.

• Vouchers are issued to the child listed on the registration form & may not be used for another child.
• Vouchers are for Northern Territory residents.
• Vouchers must be used before the expiry date or before the child turns 5 years of age.
• Parents/guardians/carers need to accept full responsibility for supervision of their child before, during & after each session.
• Parents/guardians/carers need to accept full responsibility for their child’s belongings before, during & after each session.
• Parents/guardians/carers must attend and interact with their child in all water sessions.
• Parents/guardians/carers need to accept full responsibility for expenses that may be incurred outside the voucher conditions.
• Parents/guardians/carers need to abide by conditions set by session providers.

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5. What will be taught in the sessions?

The five sessions will incorporate the following:

• Emergency care & resuscitation;
• Basic water rescue, different holds and the importance of play in teaching skills;
• Techniques to teach entry in & exits from the water and the use of toys to encourage movement;
• Floating and movement strategies including submersion preparation; and
• Movement (assisted and independent) and knowledge on child development and expectations of the child in water.

6. Frequently Asked Questions

Who administers the Water Safety Awareness Program?
The program is administered by the Royal Life Saving Society Australia.

When and where can I take these Water Safety Awareness Program lessons?
After registration you will receive a booklet with five vouchers and a list of registered session providers. You may choose to use any of the registered session providers.

Who can be a session provider?
Any instructor in the Northern Territory with AUSTSWIM Teacher of Infant Aquatics accreditation and who meets pool safety requirements can be registered as a session provider for the program. An application to become a provider can be made to the Royal Life Saving Society.

Do the parents/guardians/carers need to be involved in these lessons?
Yes - Parents/guardians/carers must attend the sessions with their child. The program is designed to give parents/guardians/carers information and skills that they can use with their child on an ongoing basis.

Is there an age limit for children involved in this Program?
Yes - Children must be between six months and five years of age.

Are these free swimming lessons?
No - The sessions are not swimming lessons but rather water safety awareness sessions. However, the sessions are free.

If I want more water safety awareness lessons, can I purchase these?
Yes - Further sessions may be purchased from session providers, but these are separate to this program. The skills and knowledge attained through the program are designed to provide a foundation for parents and carers to continue to work with young children.

I have more than one child under five, are they individually eligible for the program?
Yes - All children between six months and five years of age are eligible for the program. There is no limit per family however only one set of vouchers is available for each child.

Is the program compulsory?
No the program is not compulsory but it is highly recommended as the safety benefits are enormous. The highest number of drownings in Australia is in the under five age group. This program aims to give parents and children the skills that will assist in reducing the number of drownings.

If the vouchers expire before I use them, can they be reissued?
Yes - If you contact Royal Life Saving Society and send back the old vouchers; replacement vouchers will be reissued for 2004-2005.

How old is a guardian or carer?
People aged 16 years or above can act as a carer or guardian.

Can I use the vouchers for other sessions other than the ones in the program?
No - The vouchers must be used for the set program.

If I am from a remote area, can I come into an urban centre to access the vouchers?
Yes - If you tick on the registration form that you wish to access the remote program you will receive a video which covers elements of the first two sessions. You will then be able to access the remaining three water sessions when you:

• Visit a town centre; or
• When a provider visits your community.

To discuss opportunities in your area phone the Royal Life Saving Society on (08) 8981 5036.

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