Australia’s hot climate means that playing and competing in swimming pools is a huge part of anyone’s childhood.
From school swimming carnivals to beach holidays or safety at the farm dam and splashing about at the town pool – we all need to know how to swim. It really is a lifesaving skill.
And that’s why Wee Waa Swimming Club parents and volunteers have expressed their great “disappointment” to the Narrabri Shire Council regarding the “lack of” Learn to Swim lessons at both Wee Waa and Narrabri swimming pools.
They want their kids to have access to “regular instructing throughout the year”.
“A Learn to Swim program should be available each and every school term, for the duration of the term – 10 weeks,” said Lorna Gleeson, mother-of-two and swimming club volunteer.
“We’ve utilised the LTS programs since 2014 and never ceased to be amazed by how inconsistent the delivery of this service is.
“I enquire every school holiday about LTS for the following term and there never appears to be a plan.”
Mrs Gleeson has also raised concerns about constant changes regarding instructors and the enrolment process.
“The standard of teaching is generally good when your permanent AustSwim instructors teach but has been variable when casual staff have been used over the summer months.”
Mrs Gleeson did want to point out that Valerie Booby did a “great job” as an instructor in term 4, 2019.
Mrs Gleeson said she is urging Narrabri Shire Council to plan ahead so facilities are staffed “adequately”.
“It’s the kids of the Narrabri Shire that are missing out, and we wonder why more and more kids cannot swim.
“I will be in the pool with my son this term trying to teach him how to swim because I have no other option available to me,” said Mrs Gleeson.
Mrs Gleeson also added that she thought that NSC had made the option of private lessons “unviable”.
“Once upon a time, private operators did LTS but unfortunately NSC has made it so expensive for them to operate.”
Wee Waa Swimming Club president and father Anthony Gray holds a similar view to Mrs Gleeson and supports her comments.
“I am disappointed that we can’t offer Learn to Swim classes,” said Mr Gray.
“There’s plenty of people who Council could be hiring as staff.
“It is great that they gave free pool access but the kids need to be able to swim, they need to learn to swim.”
Mr Gray said NSC needed to start planning now to make sure there aren’t any problems next season and think about a recruitment drive with incentives to make instructor positions attractive on a long-term basis.
“They know when the pool opens and closes so they can run their rosters around that.”
Mr Gray said that parent Paul Cecil was currently volunteering his time to help train squads and children in the pool but it would be better is someone was hired for this role.
“Council monopolises Learn to Swim lessons due to charging private coaches lane hire fees that are so expensive that it means to run lessons privately the lessons are too expensive so it’s not worth it, or for most families – it’s out of reach,” said Mr Cecil.
“If council are going to do that, then they must provide lessons. You can’t monopolise the facility and then not run any lessons,” said parent Paul Cecil.
“We shouldn’t have volunteers and parents running learn to swim lessons when qualified professionals are sitting on the pool deck.
“Poor management of staff is no excuse for this.”
Narrabri Shire Council responded with the following statement,” Council advertised specifically for multiple Learn to Swim positions across Shire pool facilities prior to the summer season and trained staff to be fully accredited to boost the amount of swim instructors across all pool facilities.
“A large portion of these staff members are unavailable post the school holiday period due to school and university commitments.
“This results in the staffing levels required to run another learn to swim program this late in the season, not being at a level for Council to be able to facilitate.
“It would be great to be able to facilitate additional learn to swim programs this late in an already extended season, however we do need people who are available and who are accredited or willing to become accredited apply for these positions when advertised.
“Council have offered over 600 learn to swim classes so far this season some of which include:
“Prior to the summer season commencing, the Narrabri Aquatic Centre was able to run in early October the “Move It AUS” program which offered an 8 day intensive program at a subsidised rate with over 40 children from the region participating.
“Council facilitated a 10 week learn to swim block running 6 days per week that started in late October and finished at Christmas for children in Narrabri.
“In Wee Waa and Boggabri, Council facilitated a 6 week learn to swim block from November to mid-December.
“Boggabri, Narrabri and Wee Waa pools all conducted a school holiday program in the Christmas school holidays with a 10 Day intensive learn to swim program.
“There are future Learn to swim lessons scheduled to be provided after Easter as part of the winter program at the Narrabri Aquatic Centre.”
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