Ngadyung: Aboriginal Aquatic Recreation Program

History

NGADYUNG is the word used by the traditional land owners in the ACT region – the Ngunnawal People – to describe water and various activities associated with it. Royal Life Saving ACT first established “Ngadyung” with funding from the ACT Health Department in 2007. Ngadyung is Canberra’s only dedicated Aquatic Recreation Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and provides free access to the RLSSA Swim and Survive program for children in the local community who are otherwise at risk of missing out on formal water safety and survival education. More than 500 local ATSI children have participated in the program since its inception and the program is now a core program activity for Royal Life Saving ACT.

Program

Ngadyung runs every Sunday during ACT school terms and is offered to children and teenagers 4 to 15 years of age. Children participate in weekly sessions based on their ability level boosting their development of vital swimming and water safety skills such as safe entries and exits, breath control, floating, sculling, survival and lifejacket skills, basic rescues and safe behaviours in a range of aquatic environments. There is a focus within these sessions on understanding the risks in a variety of water environments. Educating children on how to establish safe behaviours in and around rivers, lakes, dams and pools is an Ngadyung priority.

All Ngadyung instructors are experienced swim teachers who are qualified in both AUSTSWIM and RLSSA Resuscitation.

Ngadyung also caters for water safety education for infant and adult groups. If you have a small group you would like to arrange a time for such as a mums and bubs or youth group, please use the contact details below.

Costs

Ngadyung is supported through the Federal Government’s nation-wide Respect the River program. There is no cost for participation.
*Pool entry fees not included

Participate and Enrol

Ngadyung is currently offered in two Canberra locations:

- CISAC, Belconnen
- Lakeside Leisure Centre, Tuggeranong

Sessions run for half an hour on Sundays between 12.30pm and 4pm and start times are dependent on each child’s ability level.

BOOK AN ASSESSMENT NOW by contacting Royal Life Saving ACT

Project Officer Jackie Rousseau.
Email: jrousseau@rlssa.org.au


Once you have had an assessment, we will provide you with the appropriate start time and your children can attend weekly. We hope to see you there!