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Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins, President of the Australian Professional and Ocean Lifeguards Association (APOLA) and Bondi Rescue identity is partnering with swim school, GOswim, to deliver lifesaving float to survive message ahead of summer.

GOswim is a learn to swim program offered by Belgravia Leisure and Swimming Australia, available at 80 venues across Australia, providing over 2.8 million lessons to over 60,000 GOswim members annually.

The partnership between GOswim and Hopkins will run from 1^st to 30^th November 2024 and will deliver Australia’s largest learn to swim water safety campaign of the year.

The ‘Float to Survive with GOswim’ initiative aims to spread the message on how to stay afloat in emergency aquatic situations ahead of summer, starting with 60,000 GOswim students across Australia.

The campaign comes in response to alarming figures from the 2024 National Drowning Report, which shows drownings have increased by 16% over the past year compared to the 10-year average, reinforcing the need for stronger water safety education across all age groups.

Hopkins will deliver this message across the country via a month-long national campaign, visiting aquatic venues in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia to help spread the ‘Float to Survive with GOswim’ message.

Members of the community will have the chance to meet ‘Hoppo’, practice their floating skills and learn more about the campaign. The aim; to encourage Australians, no matter their age, background or ability to strengthen their floating skills.

Additionally, from 1^st to 30^th November, 250,000 swim lessons in almost 80 locations around Australia will start with five minutes of float training, with a focus on Hopkins three step Float to Survive strategy:

1. Reach your head back to keep your mouth above water
2. Keep your mouth soft / don’t clench
3. Gently rotate your arms and legs in a circle motion

Hopkins enthused “I’m stoked to have partnered with GOswim to reach tens of thousands of students with this lifesaving message, which is relevant to anyone, in any aquatic situation; whether it is in the surf, creek, river, lake or swimming pool.

“In the lead up to summer, this is a water safety skill that is non-negotiable, and I’m excited to get out and about across the country to spread this message to help Aussies learn how to stay safe in the water.”

Sarah Podesta, Aquatics Manager at Belgravia Leisure (pictured above with Hopkins) is working with Hopkins to spread this message to as many Aussies as possible.

Podesta noted “not only are we looking to upskill over 60,000 GOswim students with the ability to float this November, but we are also looking to spread the word to all Aussies, no matter their age, ability, background or circumstance. Anyone can drown, but no one should, and we believe that spreading this message will hands down save lives.”

Royal Life Saving Chief Executive Justin Scarr highlighted the importance of spreading water safety messages such as learning how to float to everyone, no matter their age or background ahead of summer.

Scarr highlighted “the 2024 National Drowning Report revealed that 92 adults aged 65 or older drowned, the largest number ever, making up 28% of the total drownings for the year. Additionally, 25% of people were born overseas, including refugees, migrants and international students, underscoring the need for water safety skills to be taught to everyone, not just children.

“Simple yet essential skills like floating can mean the difference between life and death when someone is caught in a rip, struggling in a river, or simply out of their depth in a pool” Scarr added.

With summer just around the corner, the campaign is a timely reminder of the importance of water safety and GOswim and Hopkins are leading the charge to ensure Australians are better prepared for aquatic emergencies.

GOswim locations can be found on the GOswim website. 

Images. Credit: Belgravia Leisure

Related Articles

12th December 2023 - APOLA President Bruce Hopkins promotes ‘Float to Survive’ message with Blacktown City Council

3rd May 2024 - Belgravia Leisure reports 26% rise in GOswim enrolments in two years

7th May 2024 - Western Sydney University students introduced to Float to Survive techniques

29th December 2023 - ‘Float to Survive’ message promoted across social media

23rd January 2023 - Float to Survive message demonstrated in ocean rip at Sydney’s Manly Beach

2nd December 2022 - Randwick City and Waverley councils launch Float to Survive initiative to reduce national drownings 

23rd September 2022 - Float to Survive safety message to be trialled by Waverley and Randwick Councils

9th September 2022 - APOLA President Bruce Hopkins gains support for adoption of Float to Survive initiative as a national anti-drowning prevention message

2nd September 2022 - City of Canterbury Bankstown to host lessons on Float to Survive techniques

7th May 2021 - Bruce Hopkins and Craig Riddington launch ‘Float to Survive’ water safety initiative

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