Jigalong kids jump for joy in their in-term lessons

School days have looked a little different at Jigalong Remote Community School lately, with students swapping their classroom for the cool water of the local pool!

Over the past few weeks, 52 Jigalong students from Year 1 to Year 12 have been having a blast in their in-term swimming lessons with Royal Life Saving WA instructor Deb Gill.

From floating to nailing their freestyle technique, students have made amazing progress, earning certificates from Stages 1 to 6. They also jumped into lifejacket training with enthusiasm, learning essential skills to stay safe in any water scenario.

For the older students, the lessons went beyond the pool with hands-on first aid and CPR training, reinforcing the importance of knowing what to do in an emergency.

In remote communities like Jigalong, access to swimming education is crucial. With drowning rates disproportionately high across remote WA, the ability to stay afloat, tread water, or rescue a friend can be the difference between life and tragedy.

Jigalong is just one of 22 remote schools taking part in these in-term lessons, delivered through a contract with the Department of Education across eight of Royal Life Saving WA’s remote pools.

A huge congratulations to the students who faced their fears, took on new challenges, and learned life-saving skills. And a special thank you to the Department of Education for their ongoing partnership, making these vital lessons possible — one session at a time!