3 June 2026
Wongan Hills swimmers make big strides in Term 1 thanks to the Swim and Survive Fund
A local swim school can change what’s possible for a regional community!
The Endorsed Swim School at Wongan Hills Memorial Swimming Pool gave 14 young swimmers the chance to continue their swimming and water safety journey during Term 1 thanks to support from the Swim and Survive Fund.
The swim school plays an important role in the Wheatbelt community by giving families access to swimming lessons close to home. Over the 6 week program, local children worked through Swim and Survive Stages 1 to 8, building confidence in the water and taking the next step in their swimming journey.
The program was delivered by the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu and made possible through the Swim and Survive Fund, helping local children access free swimming lessons in their own community.
Swim Instructor Adele Carporn said one of the most rewarding parts of the program was watching students in Stage 1 and 2 come out of their shells. 
“It has been great to see the students' progress over the course of the program,” Adele said. “Some students who weren’t even confident enough to get in the water at the start are now putting their faces under, building their skills and even braving the big pool! It just warms my heart to see it.”
Through lots of practice, encouragement and time in the water, the kids built on their swimming skills and survival sequences, helping them feel more confident in and around aquatic environments like the pool, lakes and rivers.
For many families in regional WA, regular swimming and water safety lessons are not always available close to home. With drowning incidents twice as likely in regional WA, local swim schools are important in helping children develop the skills and awareness they need around water.
By supporting Endorsed Swim Schools like Wongan Hills, the Swim and Survive Fund helps more children access lessons and learn skills that could one day save a life, while giving communities the support to run programs for local families, led by local instructors.
Royal Life Saving WA thanks the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu for its support in delivering the program and helping more children in the Wheatbelt access swimming and water safety education.
You can help more children take part in programs like this by donating to the Swim and Survive Fund. Your support helps regional Swim and Survive programs continue to reach families across WA.
