Around 25 families took part in the free, eight-week swim program concluding with a CPR course for parents.

Austswim educator Lesa Brabant said the Platypus Paddlers Swim Safe Program was hands-on for both parents and children.

“It was a great opportunity for people who may not have been able to get swimming lessons for their children otherwise. 

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“The program also showed parents what to do with their kids to get them more confident in the water,” she said.

Ms Brabant said during the eight-weeks she saw, first hand, the difference in attitude and confidence in the local kiddies.

“Some were crying at the start but they all loved it and looked forward to their lessons,” she said.

On Tuesday and Wednesday last week the children were presented with their graduate certificates and afterwards parents were able to complete a CPR course, for free.

Chief executive Penny Alliston-Hall said BEST Employment felt privileged to provide the first term of the swim safe program, in collaboration with Inverell Shire Council. 

“The program was designed to give babies and toddlers up to age five the chance to gain some water safety skills and confidence in the water, an imperative when living in Australia,” she said.

BEST community service officer Michèle Jedlicka was glad people got a lot out of the program.

“We are also grateful for some of their suggestions to make the program even better when it returns in term four.”

The program can be accessed by anyone within the community with children aged from six months to five years.