General News
31 January, 2026
Local kids dive into water safety
FIVE young Beaufort children have recently completed the Victorian Water Safety Certificate Program, gaining essential skills to stay safe in and around water. The program, part of a Victorian Government initiative, outlines key competencies students should achieve by the end of primary school.
These include water safety knowledge, rescue skills, a survival sequence, and the ability to swim a continuous 50 metres.
Instructor Sandy Watkins worked with the children over the seven-day course, helping them refine their swimming strokes and practice lifesaving techniques.
“[It’s about] them saving themselves,” Sandy said.
“It’s a good skillset to have. They get to realise they can swim 50 metres and they say, ‘oh, can we keep going?’”
The program gave students the chance to tackle a range of water-based challenges, preparing them for safe swimming and building confidence in their abilities around all types of water, as well as having a bit of fun over the school holidays adding in a few extra activities for the kids to get as they get ready to head back to school.
“I have fun teaching anybody to swim,” said Sandy.
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