The Ngadyung water safety program is supported by the Federal Australian Government’s national Inland Waterways Drowning Prevention Project. NGADYUNG is the word used by the traditional land owners in the ACT region – the Ngunnawal People – to describe water and various activities associated with it.

Royal Life Saving ACT first established “Ngadyung” 15 years ago in 2007 and is Canberra’s only dedicated Aquatic Recreation Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. This initiative provides free access to the RLSSA Swim and Survive program for children in the local community who are otherwise at risk of missing out on formal water safety and survival education. ​ More than 500 local children have participated in Ngadyung since its inception and the program is now a core activity for Royal Life Saving ACT.

Ngadyung runs on Sundays during ACT school terms and is offered to children 4 to 12 years. Children participate in weekly sessions boosting their development of vital swimming and water safety skills such as safe entries and exits, breath control, floating, sculling, survival and lifejacket skills, basic rescues and safe behaviours in a range of aquatic environments. There is a focus within these sessions on understanding the risks in a variety of water environments. Educating children on how to establish safe behaviours in and around rivers, lakes, dams and pools is a Ngadyung priority. ​ All Ngadyung instructors are experienced swim teachers who hold nationally recognised swim teaching, and resuscitation qualifications.

Our term 4 2022 program saw Celeste Marshall presented with her Ngadyung Lifesaver Certificate for achieving all the curriculum requirements to graduate. Well done, Celeste!

The program is offered in two Canberra locations the Canberra International Sports and Aquatic Centre, Belconnen and Lakeside Leisure Centre, Tuggeranong. Term 1 2023 will return back in early February. If you have any further questions or would like to enrol, please contact us on 02 62605800.