Providing Swim and Survive programmes is the responsibility of a number of organisations and agencies in New Zealand. Prior to Swim and Survive programmes many people referred to ‘learn to swim’ which is more about acquiring swim skills. More recently there has been a focus on swim skills
and survive skills in an aquatic environment as part of a Swim and Survive programme. This report focuses on Swim and Survive programmes, how they are delivered in New Zealand, and how improved coordination and collaboration can be implemented to ensure funding for Swim and Survive programmes is maximised. It is important to note that swim and survive programmes are one of a number of strategies that may contribute to a reduction in drowning in New Zealand. This review is not a review of any specific organisations operating in the water safety sector.
The research came about as a number of government agencies, funding agencies and aquatic stakeholders became concerned about the perceived duplication, lack of coordination and delivery of Swim and Survive programmes. The overall outcome is expected to be a more unified approach to the funding and delivery of Swim and Survive programmes that will support both short and longer-term planning.
In conducting this research the researchers observed that the funding, design and delivery of Swim and Survive programmes has input from a range of organisations thus requiring a great deal of collaboration at the local and national level among organisations involved in water safety education. It is also apparent that there is regional variation that takes into account community needs, the local aquatic environment, and the infrastructure and funding that is in place.
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