remote-pools-v2

International Lifeguard Appreciation Day

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 23:58:20 GMT

Keeping families safe at Ltyentye Apurte Community Swimming Pool

Today is International Lifeguard Appreciation Day!

This year, we’re shining a spotlight on our Lifeguard Team at Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa), a remote Aboriginal community on East Arrernte country.

It gets pretty warm out at Ltyentye Apurte, so you can imagine how popular the local pool is on a hot day! Responding to community need, the Y has supported safe pool operation in Ltyentye Apurte since 2021, but some of the local Lifeguards have been working at the pool for much longer than that.

Lifeguard Terry Alice got his first job at the pool when he was 18 years old, and 30 years on he’s rejoined the team and loves working at the community pool.

“The way we are running the pool now is the best ever,” he said.

“Heaps of local staff and we are all looking after the place. It’s created a really good happy place for people to come and enjoy, to go for a swim, sit down under the trees on the nice green grass and talk story and relax from the heat and get healthy.”

Pools are much more than a place to swim, and nowhere is that truer than in a remote community. Local swimming pools like the one in Ltyentye Apurte are vital and valuable community assets – places to gather and connect.

Lifeguard Patricia Oliver said the pool plays an important role in community. “I’ve always loved working here at the pool, it’s fun and the staff are friendly. We also have a say in the way we want to do things around here which makes it a better place.”

“I’m a Team Leader now too so I can show all the young women and fellas who want a job what to do and talk in language,” she said.

The Ltyentye Apurte pool is a seasonal facility, open from October to March every year, and it sure is popular.

“The pool here now is ACTION,” says Justin Hayes, Lifeguard and Traditional Owner.

“People are always talking about how good the pool looks now, clear water, green grass, shade under trees. More people want to come especially because it is free entry. It allows for everybody to come and enjoy and brings our community together in a happy place.”

Being a Lifeguard may look like fun in the sun, but these first responders have completed intensive training and are ready to jump into action if someone needs help.

The Remote Pools Project supports local staff to access the training and qualifications required to be a Pool Lifeguard.

For Kiana Hayes, getting trained up and securing her first job has been a really good experience.

“I felt very happy going through the bronze medallion and first aid training, learning the new skills was great and really fun,” she said.

Kiana said the Ltyentye Apurte Lifeguards are the best team.

“Heaps of my friends and family work here so I feel very happy when I go to work. My favourite thing about work is helping the kids to be safe at the pool when they come in.”

Happy International Lifeguard Appreciation Day to all our Lifeguards in Ltyentye Apurte and beyond, and to all Lifeguards across the globe.

Helping reduce the burden of Rheumatic Heart Disease in Central Australia

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 03:22:43 GMT

Helping reduce burden of Rheumatic Heart Disease in Central Australia

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a significant health burden in remote Indigenous communities in Central Australia. According to a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia in 2018, the prevalence of RHD in Indigenous Australians is up to 122 times higher than non-Indigenous Australians, with the highest rates seen in remote communities. The study also found that RHD disproportionally affects young people, with a peak incidence between the ages of 5 and 14 years.

One of the significant risk factors for developing RHD is skin infection such as scabies and impetigo. In remote Indigenous communities, overcrowded housing and poor hygiene practices increases the spread of these infections. A study by Menzies School of Health Research found that public swimming pools can play a vital role in reducing the spread of skin infections and mitigating the risk of developing RHD, with regular swimming in chlorinated pools, combined with establishing regular hygiene routines, such as showering before and after swimming, significantly reduce the incidence of skin infections in Indigenous children.

Volunteer swim teacher makes an impact

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 23:06:21 GMT

Volunteering is a powerful way to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Maree Macague is a remarkable example of this, as a volunteer with the Remote Pools Project, she has dedicated her time and skills this year to teaching swimming and water safety education to school children in remote Pitjantjatjara community of Utju (Areyonga) in Central Australia.

Her efforts have had a significant impact on the community, promoting water safety, health and wellbeing, and fostering a love for swimming.

By teaching swimming and water safety education, Maree has empowered children with the skills and knowledge to stay safe around water and helped to instil confidence in the children to apply those skills when they are swimming at local water holes.

In addition, Maree also introduced a mother-baby water play program known as “Kapi-Bubs” (water-bubs) and an aqua aerobics program for Kunga’s (women).

The “Kapi-Bubs” program has been a highlight, allowing mothers and babies to bond and develop water skills so that mothers learn how to allow their babies to become independent and safer in the water. Maree explains “it’s great to see mothers and babies enjoying their time in the water, learning together and making progress each week. In the future, we aim to encourage local mums to be trained and employed as swim teachers with the YMCA in their community".

The introduction of weekly Aqua Aerobic Kunga nights (women only) was also a very popular program, as local community members encouraged more ladies to come along and join in, providing opportunity for women to have their own time in the pool to be physically active, in a culturally safe way.

On weekends and after school Maree worked alongside local staff to help supervise the pool as a Pool Lifeguard, providing an opportunity for families to come together and enjoy the benefits of swimming and physical exercise.

“I have loved my volunteer placement in Utju, have really cherished my time here and always remember it fondly”

Maree Macague

Significance of swimming pools in First Nations communities in remote Australia

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 22:28:28 GMT

Swimming pools in remote Indigenous communities in Australia are struggling to stay operational. This negatively impacts First Nations children and families who miss out on opportunities to learn to swim, to develop water safety skills and to enjoy swimming as a recreation.

Drowning rates and other challenges

The 2020 RLSSA report on Drowning Deaths Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People , reveals that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school-aged children (aged 5-14yrs) are 2.9 times more likely to drown than non-Aboriginal children.

Swimming pools in remote communities serve a purpose to also reduce high rates of skin infections (pyoderma) in children, with prevalence as high as 70% which are amongst the highest in the world. Pyoderma is generally the result of group A streptococcal infections and has been associated with rheumatic heart disease and glomerulonephritis.

Benefits of swimming pools

The Remote Pools Project aims to keep swimming pools open in remote Indigenous communities by working with community to help reduce these issues and improve overall health and wellbeing.

More pools open and delivery of more water safety education will help to reduce poor drowning rates, improve short and long term health and increase employment opportunities for local people, which has important consequences for social and emotional wellbeing and living standards. The Remote Pools Project is community driven, ensuring that the project serves the specific needs and wants of community and operates alongside culture.

Our community pool is the best place for our kids to swim (especially when it’s hot). It’s safer than the local waterholes around community. The pool brings families together. Kids are happy to see other kids, they don’t fight just play with each other.