The goal for Skils 2 Swim (S2S)  is to meet the New Zealand Water Safety Council's 'Swim For Life' goal of: Every child by the age of 12 will be able to swim 200m confidently and competently with associated survival skills and understand the key water safety messages.

The project is a partnership between Sport Otago, Dunedin City Council (DCC), Surf Lifesaving New Zealand, Water Safety New Zealand, Swimming New Zealand, SPARC and the Otago Primary Principal's Association.

S2S is a trial project that will target approximately 10,000 primary school children from ages nine to eleven over a three year period.

There is significant financial assistance from the DCC for children in this target age group for pool access fees and swimming tuition costs.  Finance has been identified as one of the barriers to learning to swim, and the response from the schools to the support available has been very positive.

Support from the Community Trust of Otago has enabled Swimming New Zealand 'Swim Start' courses for teachers to be planned for teachers in all 70 Dunedin primary  schools, and further workshops for clusters of teachers to make a real difference in upskilling Dunedin's teachers in swimming tuition.  This will overcome the barrier of teachers not being trained in teaching swimming in recent years.

It is hoped that the skills and experience of all Dunedin's Swim Schools, teachers and the full use of all pool space and time can be fully utilised for our children.

There are a number of excellent water safety programmes and resources available to schools.  Schools are being encouraged to integrate key water safety messages in their programmes.

City Of Dunedin Skills 2 Swim has attracted nationwide attention to a schools based programme that provides positive, measurable benefits in improving sw imming skills.  Data on children's swimming skills and levels is being collated, with research by the University Of Otago and Water Safety New Zealand to help track the success of the programme.

This project represents a smart investment by all of those involved.  It is an investment in our future and an investment in our cities' children.  It is a unique collaboration and cooperative opportunity involving a range of partners that together can achieve something spectacular and lasting.

We look forward to the initiative delivering real opportunities for children, for the successful coordination of programmes and resources, and for the promotion of aquatic activities and water safety.

If you would like to know more about City Of Dunedin Skills 2 Swim contact Brent Ward on 03 474 474 6417 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Details Of Support For The 2011 Programme

Dear Principals

We are now fast approaching the end of the second year of the City of Dunedin Skills 2 Swim programme. The support available and the levels of achievement of our children is significant. Our Skills 2 Swim programme has been the catalyst and the blue print for many programmes across New Zealand, a point acknowledged by Water Safety New Zealand in presenting the New Zealand Water Safety Education Award to our initiative last week. It was an honour to receive the award as recognition for the combined efforts of our partners, Dunedin City Council, SPARC, our local swim schools, teachers and children.

Results collated from all schools across Dunedin continue to track positively. At the end of our first year, 52 percent of children in the programme achieved the 200m swim. This climbed to 59% at the end of June 2010. The third term ended with 55% swimming the 200m challenge and we wait keenly for the results at the end of the year.

The Dunedin City Council has confirmed that their support will continue until the end of term 2, 2011. At that time new arrangements will be investigated to continue to foster the fundamental skill of learning to swim.

The criteria through until the end of term 2 2011 is as follows.

The Skills 2 Swim programme will be available for all Year 5, 6 & 7 children. It will be available for all children in schools who have their own swimming pool, including the six schools who receive funding for their pools from the DCC. It will also be available for all children in selected low decile schools, decile one to three.

The funding support will be $1 for pool entry fee and $1 towards tuition if using paid instructors. The price for entry to Moana and community pools will be set at $1 per session for Skills 2 Swim. This support is for 10 learn to swim sessions.

All schools in Dunedin have signed into the Skills 2 Swim programme, no further paperwprk is required to be a part of the initiative. To receive the funding support the following is required:

• § If swimming at Moana Pool, it must be clearly booked as Skills 2 Swim sessions. Moana does not know ages of children or whether you are involved unless they are informed. It is CRITICAL that you stipulate your booking as “Skills 2 Swim”.
• § Contact Brent Ward, informing number of children, pool used, and swim tuition arrangements. This must be approved in advance.
• § Assessment data needs to be forwarded to Brent Ward, Sport Otago, as soon as sessions are completed

Skills 2 Swim sessions at Moana Pool can only be taken by Swimsation instructors. This is part of their franchise agreement with Swimsation NZ. Moana Pool is having trouble with overcrowding over most terms of the year now. Schools are encouraged to look at using School Pools and Community Pools, especially for younger children. This will also lead to better utilization of all pools across the city. Without maintaining and / or growing patronage, some school pools could find difficulty remaining open.

Newtons buses will be circulating to all schools their pricing for 2011. They intend continuing with the significantly reduced pricing for buses to pools. Please watch out for this flyer.

Brent Ward :   Coordinator     City of Dunedin Skills 2 Swim

Email :   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Phone : 474 6417

If there is anything you are unsure of, require clarification about, or assistance with, please make contact.