22 October 2025
Remote students dive into swimming lessons in Broome
Students from Kulkarriya Community School had an exciting start to the new school term during their recent school camp in Broome!
13 students from Years 4–9 travelled more than five hours from their remote community in the central Kimberley region to spend a week enjoying camp activities and daily swimming lessons. This followed 11 students from Years 1–3 who took part in the same program at the end of Term 3.
The classes were delivered by Royal Life Saving WA’s Swim Teacher and Aquatic Trainer Sheridan, as part of a contract with the Department of Education.
Sheridan shared how these lessons provide lifesaving lessons students would otherwise miss out on. “I asked the year 4–9 group how many students have ever done swimming lessons before and I had 1 student out of 13 put their hand up,” she said.
“It was very rewarding to see the students engage so willingly to learn new swim and survive skills that they can take into their teenage years and reinforce back in community. The younger group said that swimming lessons were the best part of their camp. They loved coming to the pool every day and and practice their newly learned skills while waiting for their teachers to complete their Bronze Medallion training.”
Over the week, students learnt important swimming and water safety skills to help them feel confident, stay safe and help keep their friends safe in and around water. These lessons are especially valuable for students from remote areas such as Kulkarriya Community School, located near the Fitzroy River in the central Kimberley, where there is no local swimming pool.
Four teachers also took the opportunity to complete their Bronze Medallion training. This qualification means they now have the knowledge and confidence to supervise students safely around water when taking students on Country, and the skills to perform a rescue if needed.
Interm swimming lessons and water safety education play an important role in reducing drowning risks, particularly for Aboriginal children living in remote communities. Sadly, Aboriginal Australians are 2.5 times more likely to be involved in a drowning incident than non-Indigenous Australians, and the risk is even higher in regional WA where fatal drownings are 5.7 times more likely than in Perth.
“It was fantastic to have the Kulkarriya students participate in swimming lessons during their Broome camp,” commented Catherine Buckley, Royal Life Saving WA Manager of Membership and Remote Programs.
“The community often experiences severe weather and flooding, making it difficult it accesses structured lessons at the Fitzroy Crossing pool. We’ll continue working with the school to ensure students have access to these vital swimming and water safety programs.”
Royal Life Saving WA is proud to work with the Department of Education to deliver interm swimming lessons and ensure all children have access to important swimming and water safety education, no matter where they live.
