Former Olympian Shane Gould at the launch of the Float to Survive campaign at Sandon Point Surf Life Saving Club. Photo: Dianne Engesser/Narrative Post.
Late last year, an Illawarra surf club became the first in the country to roll out an innovative program aimed at teaching water survival, particularly to people from multicultural backgrounds.
The Float to Survive campaign aims to raise awareness and change behaviour to avoid drowning by teaching energy conservation techniques.
Sandon Point Surf Life Saving Club launched the program early this year, with the help of Australian swimming legend Shane Gould.
And it was the help of a $15,000 grant from the IMB Bank Community Foundation that allowed the club to get the program off the ground.
Applications are now open for the foundation’s 2025 grant program, with not-for-profit organisations throughout the Illawarra, Greater Sydney, ACT, Newcastle and Melbourne invited to apply to share in this year’s funding pool of more than $700,000.
Club president and campaign manager Ken Holloway told Region Illawarra earlier this year that people from multicultural backgrounds often misunderstood the “swim between the flags” message at beaches. He said they also needed to understand the safety risks involved with swimming at pools, dams and rivers.
The IMB grant allows the Sandon Point club to target the Illawarra’s CALD communities with theoretical and practical lessons based on Float to Survive principles.
“Drowning can occur in as little as 20 seconds (so) if a victim can resist their natural instinct to struggle and simply float, they have a much greater chance of survival,” Ken said.
“Swim school wasn’t a thing when I was growing up”: Sam Por. Photo: IMB Bank.
IMB’s University of Wollongong branch manager Sam Por knows better than most the importance of such a program, not just for his many customers who are international students.
As a former Cambodian refugee, Sam missed out on learn to swim classes when he was a child.
“We came to Australia in 1988 and considered ourselves to be extremely lucky to live in such a free and open and prosperous country,” Sam said.
“Swim school wasn’t a thing when I was growing up. My parents didn’t understand English well and we didn’t know there was such a thing.
“I had some exposure in primary school, but I think I just learned how not to drown.”
Sam’s six-year-old son has been attending swimming lessons for the past couple of years, so last year, encouraged by his son’s progress and wanting to improve his confidence, Sam started classes at the same swim school.
Coincidentally, the school he joined, Northern Stars Swim School, also hosts Float to Survive lessons.
“International students are just one part of it, but we’ve got a diverse cultural society who can benefit from this program as well,” Sam said.
In just over 25 years, the IMB Bank has provided $12 million to not-for-profit community groups like Sandon Point Surf Club for projects ranging from suicide prevention, to cancer support groups, music therapy, surf clubs, food banks, road safety and youth groups.
Illawarra-based Escabags was another grant recipient from last year. The funding has since helped Escabags provide vital and immediate support to the rising number of victims fleeing domestic and family abuse.
IMB Bank chief executive Robert Ryan said IMB was investing in what mattered to its members and their communities.
“We know many people are doing it tough, especially given current cost-of-living pressures, and our community and charity organisations are finding it harder than ever to raise the funds they need to deliver essential programs and resources,” he said.
“That’s why it’s vital we continue to provide funding support to community organisations, and the local heroes committing their time, energy, and expertise, to deliver tangible, positive change where we live and work.”
Applications for the 2025 program close on 15 June. Organisations can click here to find out if their project is eligible and apply online.
