St. Simon The Apostle

Victorian Water Safety Certificate Program

Year 6 Victorian Water Safety Certificate Program

 

The Victorian Water Safety Certificate (VWSC) is a Victorian Government initiative, which identifies the knowledge and skills required for students to safely enjoy water-based activities in aquatic environments. The certificate establishes and evaluates minimum swimming and water safety competencies for primary school students. The competencies focus on: 

  1. Water safety knowledge 
  2. Survival sequences 
  3. Rescue skills 
  4. The ability to swim 50m continuously

The Victorian Curriculum indicates that your child should demonstrate the competencies of the Victorian Water Safety Certificate by the time they leave Year 6. This year, your child will participate in obtaining their Victorian Water Safety Certificate through safety lessons and a practical assessment. 

There are two assessments that your child must be part of in order for them to successfully achieve their Victorian Water Safety Certificate. 

The safety lessons will be taught by the staff at St Simon’s to build adequate water safety, survival and rescue knowledge for your child to use in future water based activities. As part of this program, your child will also partake in a two day practical program at Paul Sadler Swimland, Rowville with qualified swimming instructors. 

These dates for the program are still being finalised within the current COVID Lockdown restrictions.

The instructors over the two day sessions will educate and assess your child in the following areas:

 

Swim 

  • Swim competently for a continuous distance of 50 metres
  • Swim to include 25 metres of freestyle and 25 metres of one other stroke, demonstrating sound breathing and stroke technique

Continuous Survival Sequence

Dressed in a t-shirt & shorts, students need to:

  • Enter the water safely
  • Float, scull and tread water for 5 minutes
  • Remove t-shirt and shorts
  • Swim for 5 minutes using a combination of survival strokes
  • Exit the water safely

Rescue Skills

  • Demonstrate an effective reach rescue and one of the following
  • Throw a rope to a person at least 5 metres from the side of the pool and pull them to safety, OR
  • Throw a buoyant object to a person at least 5 metres from the side of the pool and instruct them to safety.

Parents will be provided with a report on completion of both written and practical components. The report will advise on the skills, knowledge and abilities of your child, along with suggested next steps. Celebration of your child's skills will be offered through a celebration day and with a certificate of achievement.

 

The Victorian Government has invested $23 million in school swimming and water safety education to foster student knowledge and skills. This year, St Simon the Apostle Primary School will be covering the cost of the program through the Swimming in Schools initiative. This support for schools provides funding contributions towards the cost of the swimming and water safety instruction, pool entry and transportation.

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Karl Camerino. Please view the flyer which presents information regarding the Victorian Water Safety Certificate program. 

VWSC - Important Water Safety Information for Parents 

 

Karl Camerino

Year 6 Teacher