A new water safety and lifesaving skills program is commencing on 5 September at Collingwood Leisure Centre and 13 September at Richmond Recreation Centre.

We are seeking senior community members, aged 60+ to participate.

Yarra Leisure and Life Saving Victoria, with support from the City of Yarra, are partnering to deliver the Grey Medallion - A Social Inclusion, Health and Aquatics Program for over 60’s program.

The Grey Medallion program sessions cover important topics such as water safety, resuscitation (CPR) and emergency care, aquatic exercise and personal survival and lifesaving skills.

Each program will run for 8 weeks on Tuesday afternoons at Collingwood and Wednesday afternoons at Richmond from 12.30-2.30pm and is open to all local residents.

The program aims to benefit senior community members by providing them with the appropriate tools to avoid unnecessary injury or death when recreating in, on, or around water. It also aims to encourage seniors to enjoy a healthy, independent and active lifestyle.

Life Saving Victoria’s Coordinator of Aquatic Education Services Jennifer Howgate says that older Victorians have the highest age-specific drowning rate in Victoria.

“Last year we saw a 40 per cent increase in the drowning rate of those aged over 65 years, compared to the average over the previous 10 years (2005/2006 to 2014/2015)” said Ms Howgate.

“Some of the contributing factors in these situations can include pre-existing illnesses and/or medications, overestimating current abilities, falls and drinking alcohol around water.

“Drowning incidents are an absolute tragedy, all the more so as the majority of occurrences are preventable”.

Yarra Leisure Aquatic Programs Coordinator Josie Pennicott says the centre is excited to be able to offer this heavily subsidised program to the community. “People over 60 of all abilities are welcome; you don’t have to be a strong or regular swimmer, the program is about enjoying the benefits of aquatic activity safely and equipping participants with vital lifesaving skills and knowledge that could be put to use in an everyday emergency”.

The program’s subsidised costs are $24 for members and $40 for non-members.

How do I sign up?

Give us a call or come into a Leisure Centre and sign up.