27 November 2025
Kimberley students dive into water safety at 2025 Spirit Carnival
The 2025 Kimberley Spirit Swimming and Lifesaving Carnival brought a big splash of energy to the Halls Creek Recreation and Aquatic Centre today, with more than 100 students from across the region coming together for a full day of fun, learning and friendly competition.
Supported by the Shire of Halls Creek, the annual event welcomed students from eight schools, including one School of the Air participant and several who travelled in from Fitzroy Crossing through Shooting Stars and the Clontarf Foundation. Students in Years 5 and 6 spent the day taking on swimming races, lifesaving challenges and aquatic activities designed to build essential water safety skills.
The Kimberly region continues to face one of the highest drowning rates in the country, and children in regional WA remain 1.7 times more likely to drown than those in metropolitan areas. Events like the Spirit Carnival play an important role in helping young people learn vital skills, particularly in communities where access to swimming lessons can be limited.
Schools attending included Yiyili Aboriginal Community School, Halls Creek District High School, Warlawurra Catholic School, Ngalanganpum School and Purnululu Aboriginal Independent School, with extra participants joining through partner programs.
This year also saw an exciting first with Artistic Swimming WA joining the carnival to introduce students to the world of artistic swimming. Their sessions added an extra layer of fun to the round-robin activities, which also featured inflatable boat races, lifejacket drills and other hands-on challenges.
Throughout the day, students rotated around the pool deck to take part in swimming and lifesaving events that encouraged participation, teamwork and confidence in the water. Obstacle courses, rescue tube relays, rope throw relays and short-distance races gave students the chance to put their skills to the test in a supportive environment, helping to reinforce key swimming and survival techniques.
Royal Life Saving WA General Manager of Education and Training Trent Hotchkin says the carnival continues to demonstrate the impact of community-led water safety initiatives.
“Events like the Kimberley Spirit Carnival show the power of bringing communities together to build stronger water safety skills,” he said.
“Children in regional and remote areas often face unique challenges when it comes to accessing swimming lessons. By creating opportunities like this—where students can learn, participate and have fun—we’re helping ensure every child has the confidence and skills they need to stay safe around water.”
The Kimberley Spirit Carnival is part of Royal Life Saving WA’s ongoing commitment to supporting regional and remote communities. This work includes programs such as Swim and Survive, which develops children’s swimming, safety and rescue skills, and Talent Pool, which offers training and employment pathways for Aboriginal youth interested in aquatics.
Read more about our work in regional and remote areas at the link below.
