Water Safety Awareness Program - Under 5's

Northern Territory children under five can take advantage of this FREE NT Government initiative.

The program is aimed at reducing the high rate of drowning in the Northern Territory.

Administered by the Royal Life Saving Society, in conjunction with the Northern Territory Water Safety Advisory Council, the Under 5 Water Safety Awareness program provides free water safety lessons for parents and guardians, and their children aged under five in urban, rural and remote areas of the Territory.

The program consists of five sessions to develop a child’s confidence and ability in water and teach general water safety awareness and rescue techniques. The five sessions incorporate:

emergency care and resuscitation
basic water rescue, different holds and the importance of play in teaching skills
techniques to teach entry in and exits from the water and the use of toys to encourage movement
floating and movement strategies including submersion preparation
movement (assisted and independent) and knowledge on child development and expectations of the child in water.

Both parents and children are involved in the sessions.

The program may be accessed through a rural/urban provider or though the remote area program. Providers are available in the following centres: Nhulunbuy, Katherine, Darwin, Palmerston, Batchelor, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Jabiru and Defence Establishments (Defcom members only).

Each child may only access the program once.

How to access the program

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).
If eligible you will receive an information pack which will include the five vouchers and a list of session providers.
Read the information pack and select a session provider you would like to use.
Contact your selected provider and enrol in a class.
Give the voucher to the swimming provider when you attend each session with your child.

Registration

Download an Information/Registration Form ( 156 KB), Register online now or obtain a form from the following branches:

Water Safety Unit 1300 301 059
Royal Life Saving Society Australia NT Branch (08) 8981 5036.

Terms and conditions

Vouchers are issued to the child listed on the registration form and 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 five years of age.
Parents/guardians/carers need to accept full responsibility for supervision of their child before, during and after each session.
Parents/guardians/carers need to accept full responsibility for their child’s belongings before, during and 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.

Frequently asked questions

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.

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.