Give the gift of swimming!

The cost of living has skyrocketed over the past few months, so for me, this Christmas needs to be stress free, less about multiple or large presents under the tree, and all about spending time with loved ones. It is very important this year that the gifts I exchange with family are meaningful – a gift that will make a difference or bring joy to the recipient. A gift that will promote long lasting confidence, skills or a memorable experience.

With over half of Aussie kids currently not attending swimming lessons, denying them the basic skills needed to safely experience all of the aquatic activities on offer in the Australian summertime, what could be a better gift than swimming lessons? Learning to swim is a major preventative measure parents can take against drowning. We are already seeing a surge in requests for gift vouchers from grandparents particularly, but also aunties, uncles and friends of the family, being organised from as far afield as interstate and overseas!

Swimming lessons are a gift that require no storage space, promote health, physical activity and safety, are fun, and teach a skill that will last a lifetime. Karen Bentley, owner of Nepean Swim and Fitness agreed. “Many families are facing increased pressure on their household budget as we continue to recover from the difficulties of the past few years, increased interest rates, petrol prices, etc. However, the dangers of the water remain, so gifting swimming lessons for Christmas is both a thoughtful and practical gift for all ages”.


The NSW government have also put measures in place to take some of the pressure off families, with First Lap, Active Kids and Creative Vouchers available. The First Lap voucher program provides $100 vouchers for parents, guardians and careers of NSW children aged 3-6 years towards the cost of swimming lessons. First Lap vouchers are in addition to the 2 x $100 Active Kids Vouchers provided to school aged children each year – however First Lap Vouchers can only be used for swimming lessons. Active Kids Vouchers are available to every NSW child 4.5 – 18 years old who has a current Medicare card and is enrolled in school from Kindergarten to Year 12, making them eligible for two $100 Active Kids Vouchers per year.

Creative Kids Vouchers cannot be used for swimming lessons, however they can be used for Swim Camps, which incorporate creative activities and swim safety education in the school holidays. All vouchers must be redeemed by December 31st for the credit to be added to account.

See our website for details, and feel free to reach out of you any questions regarding redeeming your vouchers for life saving swimming lessons. Contact me directly to arrange a gift voucher or suggest to grandparents or family here or even overseas -belinda@nepeanswim.com.au. Happy shopping!