We are excited to be offering a series of pilot swimming lesson sessions for young people aged 5–25 living with vision loss or blindness. Classes will be 1:1 or 2:1. We are designing and delivering tailored swim teacher training to pilot swim centres, then collaborating with these venues to offer swimming lessons or water familiarisation sessions for young people.
We are inviting children and young adults aged 5–25 to join the program.
Where: Two pilot sites at this stage:
A third site is to be confirmed for 2027.
When: Leisurelink (Geelong): planning evening classes on Fridays, 4–7pm, starting mid Term 4 (2026) and extending into mid Term 1 2027 pending interest. Richmond Recreation Centre: planning to offer classes from Term 1 2027. Classes will run for a term of 8–10 weeks depending on the school term.
Cost: Classes during the pilot will be partially subsidised by BSRV. Students are welcome to continue lessons as a private arrangement with the aquatic facility after the pilot.
Transport: Details specific to each venue to be confirmed with families as part of enrolment discussions.
Support: Classes are 1:1 or 2:1, delivered by swim teachers who have completed tailored BSRV vision-loss swim teacher training.
How to enrol / register interest:
Families should first enrol interest with BSRV; BSRV will then discuss how to work with the Aquatic Centre to register the child, or the young adult themself, in the program. Please complete this expression of interest form
If you're interested but these locations are too far away, please still reach out and let us know your suburb and interest.
Contact: Rachel DeSumma, BSRV Program Manager via email or phone:
rachel@blindsports.org.au
0493 105 800
This project is made possible with support from a VicHealth Healthy Communities grant.
