VICSWIM provides affordable swimming and water safety lessons across the state, with the Summer Kidz program running during the high-risk and popular January school holiday period.

This summer, more than 10,000 children took part in the program at 138 venues in 51 local government areas, with 97 of those venues in regional Victoria.

In the Latrobe Valley alone, 212 children participated in VICSWIM in January this year.

Unfortunately, this summer also saw the highest drowning toll for 20 years, with young children, older adults and members of our multicultural communities unfamiliar with swimming being most at risk.

That’s why the Victorian Government is working to teach kids water safety as soon as possible.

On top of the VICSWIM funding, the Victorian Government has delivered $1.9 million to develop new safety standards and a code of practise for all Victorian public swimming pools.

Earlier this year, the Victorian Government also announced an additional $9.8 million to support swim lessons as part of the Swimming in Schools Program.

Supporting these programs encourages more Victorians to get fit, active and healthy – and it’s why the Victorian Government has delivered the biggest investment in community sport in Victoria’s history in the Victorian Budget 2018/19.

For more information visit VICSWIM