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With a long-held focus on healthy outdoor fun, UNCLE TOBYS is already the perfect partner for a day at the beach or the pool – and that partnership just got stronger with the launch of a new initiative, SwimKids Operation 10,000.

In Australia, drowning remains one of the leading causes of preventable death in children, and preliminary summer statistics indicate that this summer has been one of the worst on record for drowning deaths*. Statistics also show that one in five children will leave primary school this year without the skills to swim 50 metres or stay afloat for two minutes, even if their life depended on it. While many Australian children are learning these valuable water safety skills, thousands of children are missing out due to a lack of access or social and economic disadvantage.

UNCLE TOBYS wants to help change this statistic and its joint fundraising initiative with Royal Life Saving, SWIM KIDS Operation 10,000 aims to do just that.

The campaign aims to help raise funds to provide free swimming and water safety courses for 10,000 children who would otherwise miss out – children like Joseph, who thanks to the help of UNCLE TOBYS Ambassadors Olympian Cate Campbell and Paralympian Matt Cowdrey, has turned his fear of water into a love of swimming.

Joseph’s touching journey can be seen here and fundraising continues through http://royallifesavingonlinefundraising.org.au/event/Operation10000

FURTHER INFORMATION:

How will money raised in SWIM KIDS OPERATION 10,000 be spent?

Royal Life Saving Society – Australia will utilise the funds to provide FREE or subsidised swimming and water safety courses for less fortunate children.   As a guide:

  • $15 will provide 1 swimming lesson for 1 child
  • $45 will provide 3 swimming lessons for 1 child
  • $75 will provide 5 swimming lessons for 1 child
  • $150 will provide 1 term or swimming and water safety lessons for one child
  • $300 will provide an initial training program for a Swim and Survive Instructor in a regional location

How will children be selected to receive the FREE swimming and water safety courses?

  • Royal Life Saving Society – Australia has partnered with Barnardos Australia, who through their National network of family centres and partner charities identifies children aged 5 to 12 years to participate.
  • The swimming and water safety courses are coordinated by Royal Life Saving and their Partners.
  • Participants must be nominated by a registered charity, as this program does not accept individual nominations.
  • Registered charities can send an expression of interest to swimandsurvive@rlssa.org.au
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  • Good initiative, and great to get kids into lessons who otherwise wouldn\’t have access. But what really should happen is the government should fund free swimming lessons for all kids through the public schooling system. I know plenty of families who are not considered disadvantaged and are not in receipt of any charity, but are low-waged and simply can\’t afford to pay for swimming lessons for their kids.

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  • A very worthwhile initiative. I hope it succeeds.

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  • What a great idea. Everyone should be able to swim.


    • Completely agree, wish they made it compulsory in schools.

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  • Great read thanks for sharing

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  • Things are tight at the moment so we had to give up lessons.

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  • Lovely story about Joseph, makes us appreciate what a difference we can make.

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  • I have never heard of this program, it sounds great

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  • thanks for posting this :)

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  • Having just paid $175 to enrol my daughter in her first term of swimming lessons I know just how cost prohibitive it can be, it’s worth it but I can understand people not being able to afford it.

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  • what a great deed !

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  • Glad to see the promotion being done to make parents aware of safety and water with kids.

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  • That sounds great. We take our kids swimming every morning and its the best thing for kids.

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  • Great program for kids – well done uncle Toby’s .

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  • Thanks for sharing these useful tips and ideas. :)

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  • Thanks for sharing this article.

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