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Local swim school hosting CPR challenge to empower families with lifesaving skill!
July 2025
Parents and children in Sunbury & Keilor Park will have the chance to learn life-saving skills together from June 30 to July 6, thanks to a new CPR initiative being launched by AQUA Schools at a time when data shows only one in four parents update their CPR knowledge each year*.
The CPR Teddy Bear Challenge aims to give families a fun and practical introduction to basic CPR. The learning sessions are designed to be self-paced and allow families to have a go before or after class following video instruction by the swim school management team. Children are encouraged to bring their favourite teddy bear to practice on.
AQUA Schools was inspired by the work of water safety educators Kids Alive, with the swim school wanting to build on calls from the program’s founder Laurie Lawrence to better equip parents and children with the skills they need to save a life.
“We know parents want to keep their kids safe, but life gets busy, and CPR training often gets put off or forgotten,” Mr. Lawrence said. “Programs like the CPR Teddy Bear Challenge are fantastic because they make it easy, fun and immediate – and they’re reaching whole families. I applaud AQUA Schools for leading the way locally and I hope other swim schools follow their leadership in this space.”
The statistics are sobering. In 2024, 15 children under five drowned, with 40% of those incidents in backyard pools and 27% in bathtubs highlighting the need to be able to act swiftly at home if an emergency strikes.
It is anticipated the CPR Teddy Bear Challenge will reach around 1400 students and their families over the week. Parents, carers and siblings are encouraged to arrive early or stay after class to take part.
Tash Micallef, Centre Manager at AQUA Schools Keilor Park, said the event was a way to build confidence in both children and adults.
“We often underestimate what kids can learn but with the right approach, they can retain powerful, potentially life-saving knowledge,” she said. “Knowing what to do in a crisis even if it's just recognising an emergency and calling for help, or performing basic compressions can be incredibly empowering for a child. Every second counts in a crisis, and even imperfect CPR is better than no action at all.”
Emma Lawrence Operations Manager at Kids Alive, said more families needed to be supported and encouraged to act.
“CPR training is one of the most important things you can do as a carer of little ones,” she said. “Knowledge fades fast – within just a few months – but refresher sessions like this help keep those skills top of mind. And we know from the data that they it can make all the difference in saving a life.”
Estela Micallef, Centre Manager at AQUA Schools Sunbury, said the event was part of the centre’s broader commitment to community safety.
“We’re not just teaching swim strokes – we’re helping create confident, capable kids who can act in an emergency,” she said. “It’s something we’re really passionate about, and we hope to see other schools and clubs pick it up too.
“Teaching young children how to respond in a crisis – even just recognising an emergency and calling for help – could make an enormous difference. We look forward to welcoming the community for these life saving lessons.”
*Royal Life Saving
