Connecting Foster Kids to Swimming Lessons

Australians love the water, and swimming and water play remains among the most cherished leisure activities in the country. Learning to swim is a rite of passage deeply ingrained in Australian culture, with few Australian’s not having had this experience. 

But some children do miss out through no fault of their own, and too often it is children in foster care (Out-of-home care (OOHC)).

There are approximately 50,000 children aged 0-17 years in OOHC in Australia who are unable to live with their primary caregivers. This number has continued to increase in recent years.  Placement in OOHC can be for a short or long-term basis, and is done as a last resort for keeping children safe and in a stable environment that promotes a sense of security.

Belgravia Foundation has teamed with Belgravia Leisure, Belgravia Kids and JUMP! Swim Schools to support Foster Dreamz help children in OOHC do what most other children typically do – enjoy and benefit from swimming lessons.

Foster Dreamz strives to allow children in OOHC to excel, get involved, develop a range of skills and to see a future beyond the OOHC system and the appalling statistics stacked up against them from overrepresentation in substance abuse and homelessness to incarceration. After making it to the grand finals in both Monash University's 'Leave No One Behind' competition and The Big Issue's 'Big Idea' competition, Foster Dreamz are continuing their work with the help of several organisations, including Belgravia Foundation, Belgravia Leisure, Belgravia Kids and JUMP! Swim Schools.

Through this collaboration, Belgravia Leisure has offered up to 50 free swim school enrolments for children in OOHC, and combined up to an additional 21 free swim school enrolments are being offered to children in OOHC by BK Kids Swim School (Noble Park), and JUMP! Swim Schools (at Geelong West, Narre Warren, Lara, Ferntree Gully, Lynbrook, and Berwick).