Our Vision
This is Peninsula Leisure and PARC Swim’s mission statement for our community learning to swim. It has been part of our Company DNA from our inception and is something our whole Team are very passionate about.
The current model of Learn to Swim in Australia is well established, with the standardised approach of weekly lessons over many years.
But not every child fits this traditional education model. In fact, we know that up to 80% of children in the Frankston LGA are missing out on vital swimming and water safety skills. This number doesn’t consider the many adults and young adults who have missed out on these important skills to keep themselves and loved ones safer in and around the water.
January 2024 has proved a tragic month for drownings in Victoria, seeing the incident rate double (16) when compared with the same period last year. Many of these avoidable incidents were on our doorstep, occurring on the Peninsula.
To achieve our mission that ‘Every child in Frankston can swim’, we need to think about new ways to teach swimming and water safety. We need to find innovative approaches of exposing more of the Frankston community to the minimum essential survival skills which can prevent drownings.
And that’s where our Can Swim community swim programs come in!
In partnership with Frankston City Council, we will be providing more, fully funded opportunities for the Frankston community to improve their knowledge and skill around water.
Across Council’s leading aquatic facilities PARC and PINES, Peninsula Leisure will be running free community Can Swim programs.
Each of these programs are targeted at different audiences, using different teaching methods and settings.
About the Community Can Swim Programs
Can Swim – 5 week intensive program for adults
- WHO: Suitable for beginners with no to limited swimming ability or experience and not currently participating in any other swimming program. Open to all from the age of 18 years.
- WHAT: This program is for adults (over 18 years) who do not regularly participate in swimming and water safety program and wish to gain skills to be safer in and around water. The intensive program will run over 5 weeks, with a swimming class each week and free access to PARC and PINES over the 5 weeks for play and practise, to improve swimming fitness and practise in water safety and rescue techniques.
- WHERE & WHEN: PARC
Program dates: Weeks beginning
Week 1: Monday 11 November
Week 2: Monday 18 November
Week 3: Monday 25 November
Week 4: Monday 2 December
Week 5: Monday 9 December -
COST: Fully subsidised, thanks to the support of our partner Frankston City Council.
Can Swim – Family swimming and water safety session
- WHO: Families / parents with children aged 5 years and over
- WHAT: This program is for the whole family to participate in together. Learn basic swimming survival techniques, practise water safety and participate in a variety of rescue scenarios for various inland and open water environments. Have fun while learning how to be safe in and around the water.
- WHERE & WHEN: Check back here as the program is confirmed for 2024-2025 summer.
- COST: Fully subsidised, thanks to the support of our partner Frankston City Council.
Can Swim – Teen swim program
- WHO: Teens aged 13 – 17 years
- WHAT: This program is for teenagers 13 years to 17 years old who do not regularly participate in swimming and water safety program and wish to gain skills to be safer in and around water. The intensive program will group teenagers in similar experience levels for progressive and age focused activities, aimed to improve swimming fitness and practise in water safety and rescue techniques.
- WHERE & WHEN: Check back here as the program is confirmed for 2024-2025 summer.
- COST: Fully subsidised, thanks to the support of our partner Frankston City Council.
Can Swim – Infant water familiarisation program
- WHO: This program is for children 6 months to 2 years old.
- WHAT: Together, parents and their child participate in this multi-session program to learn the fundamentals of water familiarisation and to begin their swimming and water safety journey. This program equips parents with the skills and knowledge to practise in their own time and build essential, foundational skills with their child.
- WHERE & WHEN: Check back here as the program is confirmed for 2024-2025 summer.
- COST: Fully subsidised, thanks to the support of our partner Frankston City Council.
Can Swim – Other bespoke programs
Along with the 3 fully subsided community swim programs above, we are also creating opportunities for those who are not currently engaged in swimming lessons with PARC and PINES, capturing individuals in the community who are missing out on these vital lifesaving skills. Targeted cohorts will include;
- At-risk communities, schools and locations
- Teen/Youth age group
- Families
- Grade 5-6 students about to depart primary school
- Parent and Child age groups (infant and pre-school target)
- And more…
If you have specific needs, or questions about the programs, please contact can.swim@peninsulaleisure.com.au.
Can Swim – Funding partners
We would like to extend our thanks to our partners at Frankston City Council for their support of our Can Swim initiative.
We are excited to continue and scale this important, life saving goal that the Frankston community Can Swim.
More People Can Swim - Expression of Interest
Complete the More People Can Swim Expression of Interest form to be notified of all upcoming programs.
