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[VIC] Free Swim Lessons for 13-18 Year Old from Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds @ Aquatics & Recreation Victoria

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[VIC] Free Swim Lessons for 13-18 Year Old from Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds @ Aquatics & Recreation Victoria
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gccmelb on 10/09/2024 - 18:27 surveymonkey.com (129 clicks)
Last edited 10/09/2024 - 18:32 by 1 other user

Aquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV), in partnership with Melbourne City Baths and the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) have received funding from the City of Melbourne to deliver a learn to swim program and basic water safety techniques for 13-18 year olds from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

These swimming lessons will occur for 30 minutes across three (3) days, with a fourth day being a 'pool party'. Dates and times are as below:

Week 1: Monday 23rd September - Wednesday 25th September (Thursday 26th September - 'Pool Party')

Week 2: Monday 30th September - Wednesday 2nd October (Thursday 3rd October - 'Pool Party')

Please complete the following questions to register for this program. Please note:

Participants can only select the one timeslot for the week and access one week of the program.
The program is FREE of charge.
Light refreshments will be available.

If you have any questions about this program or encounter any issues whilst registering, please contact Aquatics and Recreation Victoria on (03) 9271 3800 or Sam at [email protected]

Sports & Outdoors Swimming Lesson

Related Stores

Aquatics and Recreation Victoria
Aquatics and Recreation Victoria
Centre for Multicultural Youth
Centre for Multicultural Youth
City of Melbourne
City of Melbourne

closed Comments

  • Gamer Dad Reviews on 10/09/2024 - 18:40
    +8

    You know what would be great? It would be great if deeply indebted governments didn't waste even more of the money that the next generation of taxpayers will be responsible for paying back (with interest) - for something that is divisive on the basis of race and ethnicity and the majority of said taxpayers won't ever receive any benefit from.

    Seriously, enough is enough. No more.

    • TheJoker on 10/09/2024 - 18:50
      +3

      Didn't you know? It's not divisive. We can identify as anything these days.

    • twocsies on 10/09/2024 - 19:15
      +9

      We will hopefully as a result see less news stories about migrants drowning. It’s a high risk group. The remedy is to train the high risk group on the dangers.

      • SubNoize on 10/09/2024 - 19:39
        +10

        Let's train everyone not to drown.

    • recitation on 10/09/2024 - 19:24
      +8

      Flip side - we teach kids to swim in schools so they don't drown.

      A program that helps people that didn't go to school here to also not drown seems pretty reasonable, when you think about it, unless you also want to can swimming lessons for kids, in which case it's a different argument.

      • GnarlyKnuckles on 11/09/2024 - 15:06
        +1

        Yes, training all kids not to drown via a school-based program is of course the answer.

        This is yet another example of a blatantly racist tax-payer funded policy, which totally undermines the notion that Australia is a non-racist country. While it is funny observing the hopelessly idealist pinko lefties in these threads engage in all sorts of bizarre mental contortionism in feeble efforts to justify plainly racist policies, the serious outcome of this one is that because they are excluding Australian kids, some of them will drown.

        The program should be offered to low income families of any race, and an awareness campaign should be run to encourage families of 'culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds' to ensure that their kids are taught to swim. If they are low-income, they can use the aforementioned program. If they are not, they can afford to pay for it. Why should Australian tax-payers pay for their own kids' swimming lessons, and also pay for the swimming lessons of kids from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds—particularly kids from such families who can afford to pay for their own swimming lessons?

        • jackspratt on 11/09/2024 - 15:52
          -2

          Which race is being discriminated against?

          • GnarlyKnuckles on 11/09/2024 - 16:33

            @jackspratt: You NoFat, re:

            'Which race is being discriminated against?'

            Do you really need me to spell it out for you? It is the one race in Australia that is not considered 'culturally and linguistically diverse'. White native English speakers.

            • jackspratt on 11/09/2024 - 17:35
              -1

              @GnarlyKnuckles: Can you point out, in the OP's link to the program, where it says that white native English speakers are not eligible?

              I just re-read it, and couldn't see it anywhere.

              But feel free to "spell it out for me".

              • GnarlyKnuckles on 11/09/2024 - 23:42
                -1

                @jackspratt: OK NoFat, re:

                ' just re-read it, and couldn't see it anywhere. But feel free to "spell it out for me".'

                Here it is, spelled out for you:

                'Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds'

                What do you think that is supposed to mean? Circus performers who speak pig Latin as a weekend hobby? Sheesh man, try and at least be real; otherwise there is no point in you contributing.

        • recitation on 11/09/2024 - 16:01
          +1

          Yes, training all kids not to drown via a school-based program is of course the answer…Why should Australian tax-payers pay for their own kids' swimming lessons, and also pay for the swimming lessons of kids from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds—particularly kids from such families who can afford to pay for their own swimming lessons?

          So, some kids may not have gone to school here. This picks those kids up for a quick orientation in a pool so they don't drown.

          …the serious outcome of this one is that because they are excluding Australian kids, some of them will drown.

          Ok, so let's work through this really quickly mate:

          1. Kids that went to school here would have been picked up in the Vic gov programs that teach school kids to swim. No 13-18 year old in this group is going to want to do this, so that's them excluded.
          2. Kids that didn't go to school here fall into two groups - those that can swim and those that can't.
          3. Kids that didn't go to school here that can swim aren't going to go for the 4x 30 min swim lessons to learn how to doggy paddle - see point 1.
          4. Kids that didn't go to school here that can't swim might, and I highly doubt that the organisers would turn away say a Pom migrant that genuinely asked them if they could go along.

          So it's a nothingburger. Nothing's being taken from local kids, because they got access to a swimming training program that was far better than this - this is just a catchup lesson for kids that missed out.

          • GnarlyKnuckles on 11/09/2024 - 16:37
            -2

            @recitation: Hey recit, re:

            'Ok, so let's work through this really quickly mate: …'

            Your little work-through sequence fails completely at point #1. In fact kids are not taught to swim in Australian public schools. If they were, parents would not have to pay for swimming lessons out of school, would they? You must either never have had kids, or your kids went to a private school that provided comprehensive swimming lessons, and you mistakenly assumed that all public schools also did this.

            • recitation on 11/09/2024 - 17:19
              +1

              @GnarlyKnuckles: In Victoria, where this is happening:

              https://www.vic.gov.au/swimming-in-schools

              https://www.schools.vic.gov.au/swimming-and-water-safety-edu…

              Queensland is the only state which doesn't have such a program, as I understand it, so if this was occurring in Queensland then I'd see your point.

              Edit: This was introduced in 2017, and the kids being offered free lessons in this program would have been…6-11 at the time of introduction, so primary school age.

              I know that putting 'CALD' on something is like a red rag to a bull for some people, but this isn't the kind of 'wokeness gone mad' that people like to get all hyped up for because of seppo culture war politics. It's just kids swimming lessons to learn how to be in water without panicking for kids that missed out on the free primary school lessons.

              If you're really that mad about kids getting catch up swimming lessons, I'm not sure what to tell you dude.

            • UseHerName on 19/09/2024 - 08:33

              @GnarlyKnuckles: I went to public school (1999-2005) and my kids are in public school right now. Every year there's a 2 week swimming program. It's either free or a very small price to pay because it's been mostly funded by the government, CSEF.

    • SupeNintendoChalmers on 10/09/2024 - 19:51

      How is this divisive!?

      The data clearly shows that people not born in Australia and not coming from a water based culture are overrepresented in drownings.

      Considering the costs in search and rescue, potential loss of life of those trying to save someone, lost productivity capacity of the deceased person, lost productivity in the people left behind, along with all the health costs for the foreseeable future, these programs are a bargain.

      Go back to your safe space.

      • Gamer Dad Reviews on 10/09/2024 - 19:58
        -2

        Seems like you're making the argument that maybe mass migration of third-world immigrants who can't even swim might actually cost Australians more than they're worth?

        The responsibility of the government is to improve the lives of PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN here - not every other Tom, Dick & Harry from whichever 3rd-world shithole they came from…

        • SupeNintendoChalmers on 10/09/2024 - 20:03

          I know white people for whom the simple task of not littering is a foreign concept.

          Go to Singapore or even Rwanda and see how clean their cities are.

          Last time I checked the overwhelming majority of high school achievers seem to have a certain look about them.

          Like it or lump it, Australians of Eastern Asian and Indian background will become the future upper-class in Australia.

          Edit.

          Also alcohol abuse seems like more of a white person problem in our capitals. Considering your 'logic', we should ban further white immigration due to the burden to our health system

          • Gamer Dad Reviews on 10/09/2024 - 20:28

            @SupeNintendoChalmers: Yes bro - I'm happy for us to take up to 80K per year of the smartest, best educated and most talented immigrants from East Asian and Indian background into our country. Such a moderate and targeted immigration program would be of benefit to our Nation.

            Importing a million new Uber drivers in who can't even swim in the last two years however is a betrayal by the government against the people for whose benefit they are supposed to be governing.

            • SupeNintendoChalmers on 10/09/2024 - 20:35
              -1

              @Gamer Dad Reviews: Lol my next door neighbour is Iranian, a refugee, who was granted asylum over 2 years ago.

              Oh yeah, he's also in his 2nd year in medicine.

              (He drives Uber/Uber eats to make a living)

              Mo, is frigging amazing. To think barely 5 years ago he barely spoke any English…now he speaks better than Shazza and Dazza down the next suburb.

              • MeatyOne on 10/09/2024 - 20:41

                @SupeNintendoChalmers: Your point isn't making the point you think it is. To think that in 3 years someone went from not being able to speak English to being in a medicine program, meanwhile out best and brightest have to jump through hoop after hoop to get a sniff at those same programs.

                • SupeNintendoChalmers on 10/09/2024 - 20:48
                  +1

                  @MeatyOne: Hoops lol his family was stuck in Indonesia for over 5 years and they were finally allowed in (they are Hazara who moved from Afghanistan to Iran, then made their way to Indonesia ).

                  There was no "diversity quota" for him - he had no special favours

                  • Gamer Dad Reviews on 11/09/2024 - 08:19
                    -1

                    @SupeNintendoChalmers: Why was he let in? He's no safer in Australia than he was in Indonesia.
                    Furthermore, Indonesia as an Islamic country is more akin to the Shi'a Twelver Imami school of Islam that Hazaras practice as their religion.
                    Sorry - we are under no obligation to invite the entire world into our country - especially when doing so has caused the mother of all housing crises.

                    I know you have no compassion whatsoever for the native-born Australian people who are living in the tent-cities that have popped up all around the country now. You smugly denigrate them as "Dazza and Shazza" and think you're SOO much better than them.

                    But those people are the ones to whom the government owes its primary and sole obligation. They are being harmed by this policy and the Government will be punished for it at the next election. And by God - if true Justice is restored one day - people like you will be punished too.

                    • SupeNintendoChalmers on 11/09/2024 - 13:20
                      -1

                      @Gamer Dad Reviews:

                      especially when doing so has caused the mother of all housing crises.

                      You joking, right? Immigration is not the primary cause of our housing crisis. It is an incredibly complex issue, but at its heart stems from idiotic policies, such as negative gearing, that incentivises the rich to get richer AND pay less tax, allowing landbanking speculators, the rise of AirBNBs and the ability for people to leave properties vacant. The last ABS census confirmed over one million vacant properties in Australia, so go figure.

                      I know you have no compassion whatsoever for the native-born Australian people who are living in the tent-cities that have popped up all around the country now. You smugly denigrate them as "Dazza and Shazza" and think you're SOO much better than them.

                      Probably a hint of arrogance, but yes, I do think I'm better than (some of) them.

                      Like Mo, I too am a refugee to Australia- I just happen to have white skin. I came to this country, not knowing a word of English. I worked 3 PT jobs whilst doing my degree, and recently got a Masters. I do not consider myself an especially smart person- simply a hard worker, tenacious and stubborn.

                      I see the Dazzas and Shazzas of Australia and simply shake my head- these people were born in what is one of the top 5 richest, safest nations and have pissed away any and all opportunities. I simply cannot fathom (barring mental health issues or simple bad luck) that anyone who is 2nd or 3rd generation + Australians are poor- its a sign of decadence and poor planning that so many people generations in are not in a better position. This doesn't mean, in my mind, we do not need to care for these people, but they are a burden nevertheless.

                      And by God - if true Justice is restored one day - people like you will be punished too.

                      Well I'm glad at least you don't make the big decisions.

                  • GnarlyKnuckles on 11/09/2024 - 14:54

                    @SupeNintendoChalmers:

                    'he had no special favours'

                    How did he get into medicine at uni then? There are only two standard paths that don't involve 'special favours'.

                    1. You get the required (very high) marks from an Australian high-school.
                    2. You have the required marks from a recognised institution overseas, and you demonstrate that you can speak English proficiently, and you pay upfront/become a full-fee-paying student.

                    Option 1 is out for your man, and all three of the criteria that option 2 entails seem very doubtful, given the facts you have stated.

                    • SupeNintendoChalmers on 11/09/2024 - 16:26

                      @GnarlyKnuckles: To be fair, I didn't explain it well with 'a refugee, who was granted asylum over 2 years ago.'

                      Yes, his family landed in Aus around 5 years ago and were granted asylum status over 2 years ago. Mo (and his sister) went into school almost immediately upon arriving as refugees. Younger sister is in year 10 now (I think).

                      Another thing I never mentioned is that the father converted to Zoroastrianism in Iran, which made his life\job pretty miserable, even though that faith is supposedly protected under Iranian law.

        • beefsandwich on 10/09/2024 - 21:03
          +4

          Imagine spouting this bullshit from the same account you use to plug your pathetically amateur YouTube channel.

          • Gamer Dad Reviews on 11/09/2024 - 08:13
            -1

            @beefsandwich: Spouting what bullshit?
            "Government programs that discriminate on the basis of race and ethnicity are a bad idea" is bullshit?
            "A moderate, targeted migration program is preferable to the unrestricted mass migration of millions, which has caused a housing crisis" is bullshit?
            I think you're a sandwich short of a picnic mate…

      • GnarlyKnuckles on 11/09/2024 - 16:54
        -1

        re:

        'The data clearly shows that people not born in Australia … are overrepresented in drownings.'

        That's plain wrong. In 2024 ~25% of drownings were people not born in Australia.
        https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/research-and-policy/drown…

        The overall percentage of people living in Australia who were not born in Australia is considerably higher than 25%, in fact it's about 30%.
        https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/profile-of-australias-population#:~:text=In%202022%2C%2029.5%25%20of%20people,Nations%20people%20(ABS%202023b)

        ERGO, people who were not born in Australia are under represented in Australian drownings; not over represented, as you falsely state.

        • jackspratt on 11/09/2024 - 17:41
          -1

          That's plain wrong. In 2024 ~25% of drownings were people not born in Australia.
          https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/research-and-policy/drown…

          How disingenuous - or is that dishonest - of you.

          This is the full sentence:

          25% were born overseas, with the highest countries being India, China, Nepal and the UK. Long term data shows this figure is higher (34% over ten years)

          • GnarlyKnuckles on 11/09/2024 - 23:54
            -2

            @jackspratt: Again, you are making zero sense. Firstly that is two sentences, suggesting that numeracy is not your strongest suit. As I correctly stated, in the 2024 report that I conveniently/kindly provided you with a reference to, it states that the current figure is 25%. Why you think that data dating back to 10 years ago is somehow more relevant to today than the most recent year of data is an inexplicable mystery.

            If you like making up your mind based on old data rather than recent data though, consider this fun fact:

            In the 100 years from 1680 to 1780, ~100% of the people who drowned in Australia were born in Australia.

            • jackspratt on 12/09/2024 - 00:42
              -1

              @GnarlyKnuckles: It is self-evident, although you chose to omit it (and now double down):

              The data clearly shows that people not born in Australia …….. are overrepresented in drownings.

              Yep, no doubt about it - clearly dishonest.

              • GnarlyKnuckles on 13/09/2024 - 05:00
                -1

                @jackspratt: Like anyone else reading this cryptic response you have provided, I have absolutely no way of knowing wtf you are alluding to, or how you contrived it. Bizarro.

            • jackspratt on 14/09/2024 - 00:12

              @GnarlyKnuckles:

              …… consider this fun fact:

              In the 100 years from 1680 to 1780, ~100% of the people who drowned in Australia were born in Australia.

              Another fun fact - you're wrong.

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 10/09/2024 - 18:53
    +7

    Based on the grammar and punctuation in this form, I'd guess one of their CALD community members wrote the questions.

    This is the absolute opposite of inclusion. It's the exclusion of people based on ethnicity and culture.

    • SupeNintendoChalmers on 10/09/2024 - 20:17
      +6

      The two questions

      1. Is the participant comfortable in and around water?

      2. Would the participant prefer a Women's only class?

      Pretty reasonable questions imho

      • Loki556 on 11/09/2024 - 07:23
        +3

        What is a woman?

  • jackspratt on 10/09/2024 - 19:00
    +8

    Sounds like a smart and worthwhile initiative to teach a cohort that, from memory, is over-represented in drowning statistics.

    Is the City of Melbourne really deeply indebted?

    • Jonty766 on 10/09/2024 - 19:12
      +4

      "On average over the past 10 years, 35 per cent of all drownings have been people from CALD backgrounds, so either people who have recently moved to Australia or people whose parents weren’t born in Australia."

      • BargainMe on 10/09/2024 - 19:20
        +3

        The City of Melbourne is happy for the other 65% of people to just drown.

        • recitation on 10/09/2024 - 19:26
          +3

          https://www.vic.gov.au/swimming-in-schools

          By the end of primary school, it is anticipated that students should be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills identified in the Swimming and water safety resources via HPE Victorian Curriculum F-10.

      • GnarlyKnuckles on 12/09/2024 - 00:04

        The proportion of people 'from CALD backgrounds (i.e., themselves born overseas, or with a parent born overseas) currently living in Australia is ~48%. Therefore, based on your figure of 35%, they are highly under represented in drowning statistics; not over represented. Furthermore, in fact the proportion stated in the 2024 official report on drownings in Australia is 25%. So despite constituting about half of the population, they only represent about a quarter of drowning victims.

        The extent to which some peeps like to delude themselves (and will attempt to delude others) and simply ignore cold hard facts in their pursuit of a 'warm fuzzy feeling', or perhaps in an effort to project an air of 'political correctness' (read, 'woke BS') never ceases to amaze me.

    • SupeNintendoChalmers on 10/09/2024 - 19:53
      -2

      bUt iTs dIvIsIve- the bloke with the downvote.

  • Laziofogna on 10/09/2024 - 19:07
    -4

    Inclusivity and politically correct is going over the top

    • jackspratt on 10/09/2024 - 19:28
      -4

      As is bigotry and xenophobia.

      • poxy001 on 10/09/2024 - 19:51
        -2

        As is your strawman argument.

  • dosada on 10/09/2024 - 19:26
    +6

    Only in Australia you get discriminated for being a local

    • recitation on 10/09/2024 - 19:29
      +5

      You want to go to the swimming pools for 2 hours to learn how to kick while holding a boogie board that badly?

      • sm3004 on 10/09/2024 - 19:37
        -6

        Angry white males will always find a reason to feel persecuted and hard done before taking the time to think about the reasoning why something like this program exists. You just don't understand how hard life is being in such a minority demographic.

        • MeatyOne on 10/09/2024 - 20:44

          Right, angry white males? You mean the same angry white males that make up the majority of tax-paying citizens in Australia but have access to the fewest social programs, those same angry white males? Damn them and their contributions to our social welfare systems.

      • dosada on 10/09/2024 - 19:38
        +4

        No, not at all but I'm sure there are locals that don't know how to swim too. Not only new imports

        • sm3004 on 10/09/2024 - 19:40
          +4

          So how long does an immigrant have to be local to be considered a local? Or do you just get the designation of local based on skin tone?

        • recitation on 10/09/2024 - 20:44
          +1

          No, not at all but I'm sure there are locals that don't know how to swim too. Not only new imports

          You do realise that there's government funded swimming lessons in schools that go waaaaaaay beyond 4x 30 min pool sessions, that anyone that's 13-18 and local will have had at least the opportunity to take?

          https://www.vic.gov.au/swimming-in-schools

          • dosada on 10/09/2024 - 20:48
            +1

            @recitation: Completely irrelevant. Why would a local, who actually is financing this idea, not be allowed to be part of it? I have no issue with others getting help, i do have an issue with locals being excluded.

            • recitation on 10/09/2024 - 21:18
              +3

              @dosada:

              Completely irrelevant. Why would a local, who actually is financing this idea, not be allowed to be part of it?

              Not irrelevant at all. Why would a local, who actually is financing [swimming in schools], not be allowed to be part of it? Why can't I go to the local primary and smoke the 8 year olds in the kiddie pool at their swim meet?

              The serious answer is that it's cheaper for us to pay to teach basic swim lessons than to deal with people with no idea what to do in the water putting volunteer lifesavers in danger when they get into trouble. Even picking up basic doggy paddle skills will make it safer, and it's still cheaper (as a local who pays for this) than putting kids in primary schools through lessons.

          • GnarlyKnuckles on 12/09/2024 - 00:27

            @recitation: Recit,

            'You do realise' that this is simply not actually happening in public primary schools in Victoria? It may have been 'slated in' for the future, but as yet Victorian public primary schools are yet to deliver any program that would result in any child learning 'The competencies of the VWSC [that] are part of the achievement standards in the curriculum at level 6.' (which includes swimming unassisted for 50 metres; text quoted from the reference you provided).

            It's simply not happening. That is precisely why parents are paying for their kids to go to swimming lessons after school; because they are not being taught to swim at school.

    • SupeNintendoChalmers on 10/09/2024 - 20:13

      Sounds like you need a hug, teddy bear and time out in your safe space.

  • Hvrd on 10/09/2024 - 19:35
    +3

    I guess its not as bad if a non diverse person drowns

  • Mr BoMBAStiG on 10/09/2024 - 20:24
    +8

    I honestly can't believe this exists, let alone is legal

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 10/09/2024 - 21:14
    +1

    Victoria was once the richest state in the country it is now a debt riddle, crime fill, woke/communist screaming ghetto…

  • Alejandro on 10/09/2024 - 21:32
    +2

    Im from a CALD background, this is ridiculous

    • jackspratt on 10/09/2024 - 21:59

      Why?

      • Alejandro on 11/09/2024 - 13:12
        +2

        Why seperate us? Give all 13-18 yr olds the chance to participate if they need it…

  • Sapper50 on 11/09/2024 - 03:53
    +3

    Rubbish

  • diggityfish on 11/09/2024 - 04:36
    +2

    This is abhorrent, disgusting discrimination.

  • tikei on 11/09/2024 - 14:14

    3 lessons isn't enough to learn to swim. Maybe enough to teach someone to float and be comfortable with water.
    I haven't checked lately, but in the past my university offered free beginners swimming classes for a term. .

  • AircraftFreight on 14/09/2024 - 12:52

    The popcorn here is just chefs kiss

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