The Allan Labor Government is making sure Victorian kids have the swimming skills they need to stay safe with affordable swimming lessons this summer.

Applications open next Wednesday for the popular VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program, which teaches kids basic swimming skills as well as crucial water safety education at a subsidised cost of $35 for a week of lessons.

Families with kids aged four to 12 can choose to enrol in five 30-minute lessons, which run over the course of a week, or four 35-minute lessons.

Kids will be able to participate in the VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program at the Melton Waves Leisure Centre.

VICSWIM’s learn-to-swim program has helped generations of kids learn the skills and water safety knowledge they need to stay safe in and around water – so they can enjoy their summers by the pool and near the ocean.

An extra $117,000 has been invested into the program to provide tailored lessons for kids with disability and from multicultural backgrounds. The additional funding will create 400 extra spots for kids across the state.

This is part of wide-ranging efforts to promote swimming safety and ensure even more kids get their chance to learn water-safety basics.

Last summer, more than 16,000 Victorian children took part at 169 swimming centres across the state – with 120 of these located in regional Victoria.

Lessons for children with a disability will be provided across six council areas including Darebin, Merri-bek, Frankston, Southern Grampians, Knox and Whittlesea.

Children from CALD backgrounds can sign up for extra swim lessons in Bendigo, Merri-bek, Brimbank, Mildura, Casey, Monash, Dandenong, Shepparton, Hobsons Bay, Wodonga and Hume.

Registrations for the VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program open on 13 November.

For more information visit vicswim.com.au.

Quote attributable to Member for Melton Steve McGhie

“The importance of water safety knowledge and swimming skills cannot be overestimated – and this program is making sure all Melton kids have these crucial skills.”