Moira Shire Council has joined forces with Barooga Aquatic & Recreation Centre and Life Saving Victoria to bring the Bush Nippers program to Cobram in January next year.
Bush Nippers is a regional and rural inland adaptation to Life Saving Victoria’s Coastal Nippers education programs and their open water learning lifesaving education programs.
The Cobram program will run over two weeks with the first week running between Monday, January 16 to Friday, January 20.
The second week will run between Monday, January 23 to Friday, January 27.
The program is open to children between the ages of five to nine.
Week one will cost $100, and week two $120 (the increase in price due to the second week running through a public holiday).
Students will learn swimming techniques along with water safety, using life jackets and how to survive in various aquatic environments.
Though the program was originally going to be held at the Thompson’s Beach, due to recent flooding, it will be at the Cobram Outdoor Pool on Punt Rd.
Barooga Aquatic & Recreation Centre co-ordinator Tim Dooling called the program a fantastic opportunity and a vital way to prevent tragedy.
“Water safety is important no matter what lifestyle you live and what background you come from,” Mr Dooling said.
“It is important to learn as a child, and with the shortage of swim teachers, we at BARC currently have a wait list for Learn to Swim. So to be able to help out with this program has been a fantastic opportunity.”
According to the Royal Life Saving Society, the 2021-22 summer saw a 30 per cent increase in drowning deaths across Australia.
For further information on the Bush Nippers program, phone Barooga Aquatic & Recreation Centre on 5872 4644.