Five years ago, a spate of child drownings across Victoria prompted Steve Morgan to hire a private swim instructor to teach his autistic son Corey to become safer in water.
The instructor knew of two other special- needs kids and, soon enough, six students were signed up – and the Rainbow Club of Point Cook was born.
Today, the club runs three times a week and has 15 swim instructors and 150 kids on its books across two centres – Shawn’s Swim School at Hoppers Crossing and the Laverton Swim Centre.
Each student starts off with a 20-minute one-on-one class in a closed-off area of the pool and progresses to two-on-one lessons, three-on-one, and eventually their own swim lap squad, based on ability.
Mr Morgan says the club aims to eventually have its own swim centre.
Lalor MP Joanne Ryan watched the work of instructors first-hand recently when she visited swimming classes at the Rainbow Club of Laverton.
Details: www.rainbowclub.org.au or email admin@rainbowclub.org.au
