Joseph and Dad JonJoseph’s reply made Jon’s heart drop. "I'm trying Daddy, I can't. I can't." A rip lifted Joseph up and started quickly taking him away from the beach. “With little warning it goes from being…everything seems to be under control to everything's...
Educating, Collaborating and Advocating
This blog explores some of the recent activity that our team has enjoyed delivering. Read the story of how Arohanui School has integrated water safety into their learning and the important water competencies that international university students enjoyed developing. Hear about recent advocacy in front of the Auckland Council Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel and our collaboration with Surf Life Saving NZ to present inland and coastal safety initiatives to councils across the country.
Read on for the full stories…
Water safety for international students
This August another cohort of international students at the University of Auckland completed a three part water safety programme.
Launched by the Wai Ora Tāmaki Makaurau strategy, the programme covers the essential knowledge and skills needed to prepare for a life in Aotearoa New Zealand where water is around ever corner. Unfamiliar with our beautiful but challenging aquatic locations, it is essential the students are prepared before they head out to explore.
Drowning Prevention Auckland, Coastguard Tautiaki Moana and Surf Life Saving New Zealand work together to teach the programme. Starting at orientation with an introduction to the NZ Water Safety Code, students then sign up for a practical workshop session. The DPA workshop focuses on identifying hazards and understanding how and why we need to Float first. The final part of the programme puts the learning into practice with a beach visit and trip to the pool. It is here the students develop key water competencies and practice Float first along with lifejacket experiences.
Please email [email protected] if you are interested in finding out more about the water safety programme for international students.
SuperLocal Conference 2024
Josh Carmine (DPA) and Pat Millar from Surf Life Saving New Zealand presented as keynote speakers at the SuperLocal 2024 conference. During the three day event they presented to thinkers and doers from local government about Inland and Coastal hazard assessments to enable communities to build environmental resilience. Their presentation – ‘Enabling Communities to Prevent Drowning’ provided community board members with a comprehensive understanding of hazards, risks and recommendations to improve water safety in their communities through the implementation of evidence-based best practices including the four proposed steps: 1. Hazard Assessments; 2. Preventative Measures; 3. Behavioural Research; 4. Risk Assessments.
Drowning Prevention Auckland/Aotearoa also had an interactive stand at the conference where attendees could find out more about the lifesaving initiatives that both organisations offer to keep members of the public safer in, on and around the water. For more information on our inland water safety initiaive contact Josh Carmine: [email protected].
Attendance at Auckland Council Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel
Supported by DPA Board Member Ireen Rahiman-Manuel and Chief Executive Nicola Keen-Biggelaar, DPA Advisor Madison Chang was invited to attend the open meeting of the Auckland Council Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel in August to share water safety messages with the Panel, as well as the Minister Hon Melissa Lee. After hearing Madison speak, the Minister requested that Drowning Prevention Auckland write to her office requesting assistance. Minister Lee believes swimming is a lifesaving and vital technique contributing to water competency.
It’s all in the name: Arohanui really is a special school
In early 2024, Drowning Prevention Auckland began working with the school with an initial teacher workshop upskilling all teachers on the 15 Water Competencies for Drowning Prevention. Since then, Drowning Prevention Auckland educators have supported teachers in Arohanui School’s various learning units enabling students to learn about and improve their skills in aquatic education.
Arohanui’s learning unit at Hobsonville Point Secondary School has implemented this learning in both the classroom and the pool.
“We are surrounded by water so it’s very important to learn these skills,” says Arohanui teacher Kyla Moore.
“Most of our students love water. We also have a student whose mum nearly drowned a few years back, he followed a blow up ball that blew into the water and then his mum went in to save him. They both nearly drowned, and the mum was in hospital for a few days, so we know how important these skills are.”
Kyla and her team have been very pro-active with in-class water safety lessons using Drowning Prevention Auckland resources as well as regular pool sessions at Albany Stadium Pool, with support from DPA educators.
“Our students are more confident in the water. Some couldn’t float and now they can or at least they’re willing to try to float and put their head under water,” Kyla says.
If you are a special needs school who would like your students to learn about drowning prevention, please contact Helen Meyrick: [email protected].
Other news
Knowing how to Float first saved Joseph’s life
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Educating, Collaborating and Advocating
This blog explores some of the recent activity that our team has enjoyed delivering. Read the story of how Arohanui School has integrated water safety into their learning and the important water competencies that international university students enjoyed developing....
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