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A Masters adult swim development program funded by an Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Play Well Participation Grant saw 64 adult novice swimmers from across Australia taking part.

From escaping a rip to helping a friend safely back to shore after having a panic attack in the ocean, participants of the adults only swimming skills development program are putting their newfound skills into action – and saving lives in the process.

The adult novice swimmers participated in Masters Swimming Australia’s (MSA) Transition 2 Masters adult swim development program - a three-month course which doesn’t just help swimmers improve their swimming and water safety skills, fitness and confidence, but also provides a safe, inclusive and fun space for participants to connect while getting active.

Expert masters swimming coaches Judy Bonning and Graham Dietrich helped design the course and run the pilot program in Casuarina in north-eastern New South Wales.

Bonning said participants were mostly parents of young swimmers who wanted to improve their skills so they could enjoy swimming like their children.

Bonning advised “they had had very few lessons, mostly from their school swimming days or were self-taught. Most of them could barely swim 25 metres of freestyle comfortably.

“Today, eight of the nine participants still swim regularly on Tuesday evenings and most of them try to get at least one or two sessions of swimming on their own as well.

“Their confidence, self-esteem as well as the improvement to fitness and benefits of a new social network have thoroughly enhanced their lives.”

Dietrich said the program has helped create confident regular swimmers and added “we are not aware of any other program that takes adult swimmers with minimal skills and equips them with the confidence and ability to be able to join a masters swimming squad in such short time.

“By the end, they have developed some skills and competency in backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and sidestroke, along with a strong foundation in water safety.”

Jane Brown said the program helped her navigate a tricky situation in the surf sharing “one of my friends had a panic attack while trying to get back to shore, and I found myself relying on my lifesaving skills sooner than expected. Thankfully, she calmed down and made it in safely, but I ended up floating on my back to keep an eye on her and the waves.

“I’m really glad I was able to use what we've learned in our swimming lessons. Just knowing to get over onto my back to see what was coming up was great, using a bit of sidestroke but relaxing was the key.”

MSA General Manager Rob Abernethy says it’s a unique program noting “in a fundamental sense you are teaching individuals water and lifesaving skills, but you are also helping them pursue a healthier, active and fulfilling life through the social connections they make as well.

“We’re extremely grateful for the support of the ASC that has enabled us to run this program.”

The swim program is one of 69 funded projects that address the barriers to participation and help more Australians get involved in sport and physical activity.

More information on the Participation Grant program and a list of successful recipients is available on the ASC website.

To find out more about the T2M program contact Masters Swimming Australia.

Image. Participants of Masters Swimming Australia’s Transition 2 Masters swim program at Casuarina.

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