A remote pool program hopes to decrease the number of child drownings

Roper Gulf Council is opening two public pools in remote communities in order to close the gap in health inequality and prevent drownings in remote Australia.

Tom Farrell, Roper Gulf Regional Council staff member at Ngukurr Pool. Picture: Supplied

Roper Gulf Council is opening two new community pools in regional Australia to help reduce rates of children drowning.

As part of its Remote Pool Program, The Y NT has just opened a pool in Borroloola and is set to open another pool in Ngukurr in early November.

According to statistics from Royal Life Saving Australia, First Nations children aged 5-14 years are 2.9 times more likely to drown than non-Indigenous children and almost half these deaths occur in areas classified as remote or very remote.

Reports show these children are at greater risk due to lower levels of swimming skills and water safety knowledge, combined with living in a remote location near waterways, according to The Y NT.

Access to water safety education and swimming lessons are therefore crucial in all areas of Australia, including remote locations, to ensure children learn how to be safe in and around water.

The opening of the two community pools will help “close the gap in health inequality in remote Australia”, Y NT chief executive Matt Feutrill said.

“Regular access to swimming pools is a protective factor against chronic diseases and reduces the occurrence of skin, ear, and eye infections,” he said.

Mr Feutrill alluded to existing swimming pools in remote communities being closed due to noncompliance with safety regulations and standards.

He praised The Y’s expertise in facility management and water safety when it comes to swimming pools.

“Remote swimming pools are not just places for recreation, they are essential community assets that foster health, social bonds, and local livelihoods,” Roper Gulf Council general manager David Hurst said.

Roper Gulf Council is also aiming to support the training of pool lifeguards and recruiting skilled volunteers, who can deliver swimming lessons and training.

Originally published as A remote pool program hopes to decrease the number of child drownings