GRAC’s Multicultural Swim Program Pilot

At Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre (GRAC), a new multicultural swim program is equipping more locals with essential water safety skills, bridging cultural divides and making community connections in the Latrobe region.

Born from a collaboration between Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS), GRAC, and local organisations including Quantum, Centre for Multicultural Youth, and TAFE Gippsland, the program was developed in response to alarming drowning statistics, particularly among multicultural communities in Victoria. Many participants had never stepped foot in a pool, let alone learned how to navigate open waterways.

Tess Poole, Community Engagement Officer at GRAC, explained that the program was designed to go beyond just water-based activities.

We wanted to create a safe and inclusive space where participants could build confidence, develop friendships, and feel part of the communityTess Poole, Community Engagement Officer at GRAC,

To ensure accessibility, LCHS provided funding, covering swim packs, including modesty suits for women, goggles, towels, and open water safety textbooks. This was alongside six weeks of free entry and guided survival swimming lessons at GRAC. Classes were held on Saturdays to accommodate work schedules and transport barriers identified through community surveys.

The program’s survival swimming component equips participants with essential water safety skills, focusing on both confidence and capability in the water. Participants learn to float, scull, and tread water, swim continuously for 25 meters using any stroke, and demonstrate basic rescue techniques. They also complete a survival sequence and practice DRSAB (Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing), ensuring they are prepared for real-world aquatic situations.

The impact has been profound. Participants ranged from toddlers to a 69-year-old, representing diverse backgrounds, including Chinese, Thai, and Sudanese. One family of five was so inspired that they enrolled in ongoing swim lessons. “Many of them had never been in the water before,” Poole said. “Now, they’re not only learning to swim but actively engaging in our community.”

One mother Amina Khatun, who shared her experience with the program, “Myself and my kids really enjoyed the program! I have signed up my kids to swimming lessons so they can build confidence and learn more from what they have learnt from the program.”

With strong support from local partners, discussions are underway to secure funding for future programs. As the region welcomes more newcomers, GRAC aims to lead the way in providing vital water safety skills while making learning fun and building a stronger sense of belonging among the region’s CALD communities.