1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,519 Speaker 1: We know that families in the Northern Territory can apply 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: for another round of sport and Learn to Swim vouchers 3 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 1: from tomorrow. It helps to offset the costs of kids' activities. 4 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: And we also know that children aged five and over 5 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: enrolled in urban schools are eligible for the one hundred 6 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,080 Speaker 1: dollars sports voucher every six months that can be used 7 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: with more than three hundred approved sports. But as well 8 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: as that, families with kids under five can access to 9 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: one hundred dollars Learn to Swim vouchers each year. Now 10 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: joining me in the studio is Royal Life Saving Enties 11 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: Operations manager Laura with Us. Good morning to you, Laura, 12 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: Good morning Katie. 13 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. 14 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, lovely to have you in the studio. Now do 15 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: you know if there's been a strong uptake of people 16 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: and families getting their kids to those learn to Swim 17 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: lessons as a result of those vouchers rolling out, Well. 18 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 2: I can speak from a Royal Life Saving perspective, YEV 19 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 2: last year so there well, the twenty three to twenty 20 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 2: four uptake and the twenty four to twenty five uptake, 21 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 2: we are seen eight hundred and eighty seven families come 22 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:07,039 Speaker 2: through our doors utilizing their sport vouchers. Wow, and seven 23 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,119 Speaker 2: hundred and twenty four families coming through utilizing their learned 24 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 2: to Swim vouchers, so they had From our perspective, there 25 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 2: has been a great uptake and it's just amazing to 26 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 2: see families actually want to invest, with the help of 27 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 2: the government scheme, invest in their water safety journey with 28 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 2: their little ones. 29 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 1: I think it's such an important thing to do. Like 30 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:28,479 Speaker 1: I grew up in Queensland in a family my dad 31 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 1: was a swim coach. I had to teach learn to swim. 32 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: I like, I could not stress enough the importance of 33 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: kids being safe around water. So I think it's a 34 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 1: really fantastic initiative that we're able to get some of that, 35 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: you know, like to get a little bit of help 36 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 1: to be able so that everybody can afford to do 37 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: that right. 38 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 2: Oh. Absolutely, And it's just it's we're really grateful that 39 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 2: the government invests in something like this. Yeah, because the 40 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 2: water safety journey starts from you know, six months, so 41 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 2: it's really important that the government one has seen the 42 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 2: importance of this life skill but also allows and contributes 43 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 2: to families accessing or better accessing these vital programs. 44 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: From your perspective, how just how vital is it that 45 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: families do access these programs from quite a young age. 46 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 2: So globally, drowning is the leading cause of accidental deaths 47 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 2: for children between the zero and four age groups, So 48 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,799 Speaker 2: it is vital that we start as soon as possible 49 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 2: the water safety journey. We have a lifestyle around water, 50 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 2: so it's something that one needs to be taught, but 51 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 2: two it's a skill set that's going to set children, teenagers, 52 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 2: even young adults up for life. 53 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're spot on there, and it's something I think 54 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: we sort of forget growing up in a country like Australia, 55 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 1: where you know, water is part of our life. It's 56 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 1: part of our lifestyle. You go out fishing, you go swimming, 57 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: whatever it might be that you do, but literally everybody 58 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: is involved in it. And if you not only know 59 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: how to swim, but no how to be safe around water, 60 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: it's like it just it sets you up with those 61 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: good habits forever. 62 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 2: Absolutely, because drowning is preventable. So in utilizing all of 63 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 2: the key actions, it's not just learning how to swim, 64 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 2: but it's also knowing and receiving education on what does 65 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 2: it mean to be water safe and you know, using 66 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 2: those main four key actions together is how we stay 67 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 2: safe around water. 68 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: Well, we do know as well that there was an 69 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: absolute tragedy just a couple of weeks ago at a 70 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: home in Palmerston where a little one's life was lost 71 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: as a result of a drowning. Like what are those 72 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: key things that we can do to keep our little 73 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: kids safe? 74 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 2: So Royal Life Saving First Week sends deepest condolences to 75 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 2: the family. It is an absolute tragedy. But working together 76 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: with four key actions is how we keep the little 77 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 2: one safe and the first one is supervision. Nothing can 78 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 2: replace it always being within arm's reach of little ones 79 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 2: around water. We also need to restrict access because we 80 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 2: don't just have backyard pools that we you know, visit 81 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 2: and recreate, recreating. We've got amazing waterways in the territory, 82 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 2: so making sure that we're restricting the access and you know, 83 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:19,280 Speaker 2: keeping within arms reach. It's also the water familiarization, so 84 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 2: that starts at home, it starts with the parents, but 85 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,039 Speaker 2: then we can formalize it and you know, bring in 86 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 2: structured swimming lessons and then it's knowing CPR in the 87 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 2: events of an accident, you want to have that skill 88 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 2: set to be able to hopefully save somebody's life. So 89 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 2: combining those four key actions is how we stay safe 90 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 2: from our water. 91 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 1: So, Laura, I mean, you know, the CPR part and 92 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,599 Speaker 1: the supervision is obviously parents and grandparents whoever might be 93 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,359 Speaker 1: looking after children. When you talk about some of the 94 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 1: other things that parents need to do when it comes 95 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: to water safety and even you know, like families, grandparents water, 96 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 1: some of those things that we've got to be really 97 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: aware of, so restrict access. 98 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: You know, we have backyard pools, so we have a 99 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:05,719 Speaker 2: fence and we have a gate, but it's those other 100 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 2: obscure items like the dog water bowl or the clamshell 101 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 2: pul that you know, we may have used it in 102 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 2: the wet season, but now it's just sitting there unused. 103 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 2: So those sorts of things, if they're not in use, 104 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 2: we always recommend please put them away because we know 105 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 2: in the territory rainfall it will fill up that endy 106 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 2: cavity and turn it into a water swam. Yeah. 107 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: The other time I always worry about kids is at 108 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: like at birth day parties and things like that that 109 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 1: are at pools where it feels like everybody's supervising, but 110 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: no one kind of is if you get what I 111 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: mean absolutely, you know, like if there's not an allocated 112 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: parent that's actually on, I'm in the pool with them, 113 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 1: Judy and has or like really one parent with twenty 114 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: kids is not enough. You need a few parents keeping 115 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:53,359 Speaker 1: an eye on those kids, and if they're little, you 116 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: need one parent per child just. 117 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 2: About absolutely, So you hit the nail on the head there. 118 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 2: Because communication is key. There needs to be a plan 119 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:03,679 Speaker 2: when there is going to be a gathering around water. 120 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 2: Who's watching who, at what time and at what station 121 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 2: is X, y and Z responsible for? Because drowning is quick, 122 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,359 Speaker 2: it is silent, and it happens in an instant. So 123 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 2: it's really important that that there's a plan in place 124 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 2: when it comes to supervising children around water. 125 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 1: How are our numbers tracking in the Northern Territory when 126 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 1: it comes to those drownings. 127 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 2: So for the twenty four National Drowning Report NT recorded 128 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 2: five fatal drownings. One hundred percent of those drowning deaths 129 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 2: were aged between eighteen years and seventy four. So in 130 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 2: terms of the zero to four and even will go 131 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 2: zero to twelve year old age bracket. I. You know, 132 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 2: it just goes to show that when schemes like this, 133 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 2: the learn to Swim and the Sport voucher are being 134 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 2: utilized to access water and see swimming and water sector programs, 135 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 2: there is a contribution to these numbers not looking as 136 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 2: dire as what they had been, say, ten years ago. 137 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: This is the thing. It sets you up for life, 138 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 1: you know, it truly does. And once you know how 139 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 1: to swim, and once you have all those water safety 140 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,239 Speaker 1: measures in your brain and you know what you should 141 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: be doing, it helps you across the board for a 142 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: very long time. 143 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 2: Absolutely, it's not just the physical aspect of fitness. It's 144 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 2: the bonding experience that happens with mums and you know, 145 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 2: little bubs. But it's also the water safety education and 146 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: as children get older, it's about them being able to 147 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:30,239 Speaker 2: make responsible choices when it comes to what they're doing around. 148 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: Oh, Laura, I'd forgotten about when my little ones were 149 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: tiny and learning to swim, and how snugly they are 150 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: in the water as well. 151 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 2: They love so beautiful to see and it is. It's 152 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 2: a bonding experience, it's a social experience and it's just 153 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 2: fantastic that the government really invests it into the water 154 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 2: safety journey of families and the anti. 155 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, it is good. Well, Laura, lovely to speak to 156 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: you this morning. Laura with US Royal Royal Life Saving 157 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:58,679 Speaker 1: NTIES Operations Manager, Thanks so much for your time, Thanks 158 00:07:58,680 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: for having me. Thank you.