Open water swimming is booming as a sport and recreational activity.

Meanwhile, Increasing numbers of people are drowning at Victorian beaches, rivers and waterways. many are people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

COVID-19 has closed many pools and aquatic centres and swimmers are discovering the sea and rivers as healthy, open air alternatives to indoor pools.

Providing access to this activity requires safety equipment, particularly to support people with special needs. The open water (oceans, rivers, lakes) is an uncontrolled environment so participation and teaching relies on higher levels of support than the pool environment.

Demand for supported open water swimming is now far beyond the capabilities of our group of volunteers, coaches and teachers to handle.

Multiclass athletes, people living with disabilities, the elderly and people from multicultural backgrounds in particular are asking for and needing additional levels of support that we are unable to provide.

The Melbourne Open Water Swimming Club has been established to support safer swimming in Port Philip Bay and in the Melbourne region. The club's mission is to support inclusive recreational activities and events, provide teaching and learning opportunities for people wanting to access swimming skills in the open water and to develop pathways for participation in this sport by a diverse range of athletes and community members.

We have years of experience with Special Olympics swim groups, elderly swimmers, multiclass swimmers, learners, people from non-english speaking backgrounds as well as age-group and adult elite competitors.

We need safety equipment to provide accessible options for participants of all abilities.

All these groups require support for safer swimming in the open water and the club requires equipment to develop pathways for participation and skill acquisition.

All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible and would be greatly appreciated.