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A new pilot program to help people from multicultural backgrounds enjoy swimming with safety and security has been launched by Cardinia Life.

Following on from World Drowning Prevention Day on 25th July, the 'Safely Engaging with Water program’ is a collaboration between Cardinia Leisure and Officer Sikh Temple Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Darbar.

Backed by Cardinia Shire Council and Life Saving Victoria, the program aims to teach adults from multicultural backgrounds how to swim and enjoy the water safely.

Locally, the program was initiated after Clyde residents Dharmvir Singh, aged 38, and Gurjinder Singh, aged 65, drowned after leaping into a pool at a Gold Coast hotel to try to save the younger man’s child on Sunday 31st March.

This came after January when Cranbourne East man Sahil Panwar, aged 25, was swept out to sea at Kilcunda Surf Beach. Later that month saw Victoria’s worst drowning incident in almost two decades when Clyde North residents - Kirti Bedi, aged 20, Suhani Anand, aged 20, along with Jagjeet Singh Anand and Reema Sondhi from India, drowned at Forrest Caves Beach on Phillip Island.

These devastating deaths prompted calls to strengthen water safety and Officer Gurdwara’s Harpreet Singh Kandra was determined to see all communities enjoy the water.

Kandra noted "this got me into action, I started introspecting, talking to the community and experts. And today we start a significant chapter in our journey to upskill the community with water safety.

“Water is fun, water is therapy, swimming is an exercise, connection with water is an important part of Aussie lifestyle.”

Reported by the Royal Life Saving Society - Australia, last summer 99 people drowned and a quarter were from multicultural backgrounds.

A 2022 study from the University of Sydney said almost half of beach drowning deaths from 2004 to 2021 were people born overseas.

Explaining that the local Sikh community has been instrumental in raising awareness, Life Saving Victoria’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisor, David Holland stated “people from multicultural communities are five times more likely to drown when swimming, the fact that the Sikh community is highlighting the issue and taking action is excellent.

“Life Saving Victoria has been working closely with the Sikh community for the last few months and will continue to support them in the years ahead as we have with all multicultural communities on water safety.”

The program will see Cardinia Leisure subsidise attendees’ participation as well as operate the lessons. Once initiated, the program aims to expand through the South East and beyond.

Community information sessions are planned to be held soon in collaboration with Life Saving Victoria.

This will involve both an incursion session at Officer Gurdwara in the coming weeks and an excursion session at a local beach during summer.

Cardinia Shire Mayor Jack Kowarzik was happy to see this new program initiated in Cardinia, adding “the opportunity for adults to be introduced to water safety and build their confidence in a supportive environment is so important.

“This program will help keep our people safe. But it will do so much more than that, it will build confidence in the water, provide the ability to make new connections and who knows where it may lead them - the next Olympics maybe."

Kandra said there has been a keen interest in the pilot program so far and encouraged people from all backgrounds to join, going on to say "the program is getting a massive response, I originally wanted it to be a pilot of 10 people, but I have 20 people now wanting to join.

“Someone said this is a program for my community, but no this is for anyone who can’t swim, anyone from any walk of life can join.”

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