The Parnggi Yarluwar Porlar (Water Ocean Kids) program was one of 25 projects funded through the 2022/23 round of the ASCP.

Surf Life Saving South Australia (SLSSA) and the Tjindu Foundation have come together to deliver water safety and swimming programs to approximately 200 Indigenous youth members at local pools and beaches across South Australia.

Although trends have improved significantly over the last 10 years, fatal and non-fatal drownings still affect a disproportionate number of First Nations peoples, according to Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia in their recently released National Drowning Report.

The aim of the Parnggi Yarluwar Porlar project is to further reduce those statistics, while also serving and welcoming First Nations peoples into the swimming and surf lifesaving community.

Before the program began earlier this year, Tjindu Foundation General Manager Kellie Graves emphasised the importance for children of all backgrounds to receive quality water safety training.

“Many young people receive water safety training during their school years, but access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids to such programs is historically lower,” Graves said.

“We look forward to working with SLSSA to begin changing that.”

SLSSA Club and Member Development Manager Georgia Brazenall echoed Graves’ sentiment regarding the importance of providing water training to First Nations children.

“Generally, our kids in the program wouldn't have had swimming lessons if it wasn't for this project… and similarly, many of the kids in our program haven't participated in surf lifesaving, either… so that was the big focus — providing that access,” Brazenall said.

Georgia also highlighted SLSSA’s desire to serve and represent a diverse range of communities through their water training programs, with the ASCP providing an opportunity to do just that.

“I would really like to start welcoming more First Nations people into our movement… [the ASCP] serves kind of a dual purpose: being able to provide access to the community, but also making our movement stronger and more diverse.

“For example, surf lifesaving is a sport, but it's also a community service… and we should be representative of those we serve on the beach.

“So, that's part of the reason we want to make sure our membership is diverse and actually represents the people who are going to the beach and who we should be looking after.”

It’s taken a collaborative effort to deliver this initiative with the Largs Bay, Noarlunga and Fleurieu Aquatic Centres, iSwim at Immanuel College, and Surf Life Saving Clubs from North Haven, West Beach, Christies Beach and Goolwa all joining forces.

The community’s reaction to the project has been nothing but positive.

“So far, the feedback from parents has been amazing… they're just really excited to see the progress their children are making in their swimming,” Brazenall said.

“The children are really enjoying themselves… you can tell some of them are just water babies and love the water.”

Georgia underscored the impact the ASCP can have on local organisations and the communities they represent, labelling the grant program “an opportunity for communities to start something from the grassroots up.”

“I think the partnership aspect of the program is extremely important because, to make our state more active, it involves many stakeholders.

“If [local organisations] have an innovative idea, and they can work with other community groups to achieve it, the ASCP provides a path to bring that idea to life.”

Applications are now open for the 2023/24 round of the ASCP.

For more information and to apply, visit: www.orsr.sa.gov.au/grants/active-state-collaboration-program