On Monday June 15, Cardinia Life and Officer Gurdwara proudly hosted the start of our Safely engaging with water – Inspiring Faith Leaders program.
This current 10-week program is for faith leaders, within our community to encourage members of the CALD community who do not feel confident or safe in and around water. The program runs in addition to our current Safely Engaging with Water program. These lessons differ from usual adult swim lessons, in that it is heavily focused on water safety, survival techniques and confidence around water. Participants will have 1 x 30-minute class each week with one of our qualified and passionate instructors, as well as unlimited access to Cardinia Life’s pool to practice their newly acquired skills throughout the duration of the program.
Prominent member of Cardinia’s CALD community, Dr Harpreet Singh Kandra from Officer Gurdwara, has been a driving force behind the initiation of this program after his community was rocked by multiple drownings. Dr Kandra is working with Life Saving Victoria and many media outlets to bring to focus to these critical issues in our community.
Head of Cardinia Life’s Swim School, Paula Smith says ‘It is encouraging to see the Faith Leaders starting this journey to become aware and confident in and around water. They will learn skills that may save their life or someone else, and to me that is a great outcome’.
Monday’s launch event saw the coming together of service provider, local, state and federal government, industry, and community in support of this much needed initiative.
| Dignitaries | |
| Honourable Matt Thistlethwaite | Assistant Minister for Immigration and the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. |
| Cassandra Fernando | Federal MP for Holt |
| Justin Scarr | CEO RLSSA |
| RJ Houston | RLSSA General Manager – Capability and Industry |
| Dave Wells | CEO Reclink |
| David Holland | LSV Strategic Advisor |
| Audra Fenton | CEO Living and Learning Pakenham |
| Nick Grant Collins | Coordinator Community Safety and Resilience, Bass Coast Shire Council |
| Kerry James | Emergency Management Officer, Bass Coast Shire Council |
| Robbie, Ngaire & Kim | Victoria Police |
| Along with many other dignitaries and members of the wider CALD community and representatives Cardinia Shire Council & Bass Coast Council. | |
| Paula Smith | Head of Swim School, Aligned Leisure |
| Abu Bakar Siddiqui | Acting Leisure Manager, Aligned Leisure |
| Program partcipants |
