Water Skills for Life

Developed by Water Safety New Zealand, Water Skills for Life provides freely available resources aimed at enhancing the quality and focus of aquatic programmes. The programme emphasises age-appropriate skills relevant to environments where drownings most commonly occur, such as beaches, rivers and lakes.

Criteria

Since its inception in 2011, over 1.38 million lessons have been delivered impacting over 100,000 school-aged tamariki across Tāmaki Makaurau. 

Aktive coordinates Water Skills for Life funding for:  

  • Equity Index 420 and greater, Years 0-8 students 
  • Kura Kaupapa Māori, all year level students 
  • Specialist (Disability) Schools (Equity Index 420 and greater), all year level students. 

For eligible schools/kura, this covers eight professionally delivered Water Skills for Life lessons to help tamariki keep themselves safe in, on and around water. 

Water Skills for Life   

Applications currently closed

When applications are open, available funds will be allocated on a first-in, first-served basis to schools and kura within the greater Auckland area, excluding those within the Old Manukau City Council boundaries which are supported by The John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation. 

Note: A signed Funding Agreement must be completed prior to lessons commencing. Funding will not be provided if lessons are provided without a signed Funding Agreement. 

EOI here

School Lesson Delivery

Water Skills for Life lessons can also be taught in a classroom. To give teachers confidence and the necessary knowledge about aquatic education, free professional development is available through Drowning Prevention Auckland. 

More Resources 

Ministry of Education school pool guidelines

Kia Maanu Kia Ora lessons

Online education