5 December 2025
Aqua Skills 55+ boosts water safety ahead of summer
Two recent Aqua Skills 55+ programs at Rockingham Aqua Jetty and Claremont Aquatic Centre brought local residents together to refresh their water skills and build confidence before the start of summer.
Aqua Skills 55+ is a free community program for adults aged 55 and over to encourage people to refresh the skills they learnt earlier in life and adjust them to their current strength, comfort and fitness levels. Over four sessions, participants covered first aid knowledge, learnt new rescue skills and finished the program feeling better prepared for activities like swimming, boating and fishing.
The sessions focused on practical skills that can be used in real situations. Participants practised putting on a lifejacket while in the water, staying together as a group while waiting for help and performing CPR on someone close to them. These simple skills could one day save their own life or someone they love.
Adult Water Safety Coordinator Aariane Agnes shared how the program is making a difference to help older adults reconnect with the water in a safe and enjoyable way. “Aqua Skills 55+ is a great example of how local facilities and community programs can work together to keep people safe,” she said.
“Without the support of centres like Aqua Jetty and Claremont Aquatic Centre, we wouldn’t be able to deliver such programs. It’s a massive team effort, and we’re so grateful for their commitment to helping older adults feel confident around the water.”
Claremont Aquatic Centre Manager, Matt Browne, also reflected on the experience and the positive response from the community.
“Supporting the Aqua Skills 55+ program was a fantastic opportunity. We usually run children’s lessons and squad training, so it was especially meaningful to help empower older adults in our community to refresh their water-safety skills and feel more confident in the water.”
Aqua Skills 55+ and Heart Beat 45+ are part of the Make the Right Call campaign which encourages Australian adults to know their limits, check the conditions and understand what to do in an emergency before getting into the water. The campaign highlights that while our love for the water stays the same, the risks can change as we age.
Recent trends show a concerning rise in drowning rates for people aged 75 and older, especially during the summer. Across Australia, one in three drowning deaths involve adults aged 65 and over, contributed to by underlying health conditions, the influence of medication or a belief that past ability is still current ability.
With the right skills and safe choices, activities like swimming, fishing, boating and spending time with family by the water can remain enjoyable and safe for everyone.
A big thank you to the Western Australian Department of Health for supporting the Make the Right Call program. Their funding helps keep Aqua Skills 55+ free for participants.
