Award-winning Free Youth Pool Entry returns!
Published on 17 December 2024
An award-winning partnership aimed at providing youth with a safe and accessible place to meet and socialise is making a return in time for the summer school holidays.
Free youth pool entry program will run from Saturday 21 December 2024 to Tuesday 28 January 2025 at three locations:
- Red Cliffs Swimming Pool (Heytesbury Avenue)
- Merbein Swimming Pool (Box Street)
- Ouyen Swimming Pool (Gregory Street)
A partnership between Mildura Rural City Council’s Youth Engagement Services, Aligned Leisure, Hands Up Mallee and these respective communities, residents aged 17 years and younger will be able to go to the pool for free over the summer school holidays.
Supervision will be required for those aged 10 and under.
Mildura Mayor Helen Healy welcomed the initiative’s return and encouraged those eligible to take advantage of the free entry.
“The pilot proved a major success, leading to a significant and sustained increase in community usage of the Red Cliffs Swimming Pool, at times spiking to more than 3,000 visitors in just one month,” Cr Healy said.
“The pilot was then successfully trialled in Merbein and is now being made available at three locations across our region, with the aim to attract as many young people as possible.
“Our recently adopted Youth Engagement Strategy demonstrated a tremendous desire from our young people for more activities aimed at those aged 17 and under, and this is a great initiative to keep young people engaged over the summer school break.”
The free pool entry initiative started as a pilot driven by Red Cliffs youth, leading to a collaborative push by Hands Up Mallee, Council and Aligned Leisure to find a solution.
The young people were listened to, and the result was the ground-breaking Free Youth Pool Entry Pilot, which provided free access to the Red Cliffs Swimming Pool for young people 17 and under, including activities and events for young people during the school holidays.
"Young people in our community spoke up about the importance of having safe, fun and accessible places to go and things to do with family and friends,” Hands Up Mallee Community Engagement and Action Teams Coordinator Catherine Thompson said.
“Removing the barriers to access community assets like local swimming pools is an effective way to ensure that all young people and families can reap the social and health benefits of public spaces.”
The project proved a major success, taking out the VIC/TAS Community Based Initiative of the Year Award at the 2024 Parks and Leisure Australia Awards for Excellence.
Red Cliffs resident Aunty Colleen Johnson was among the community members who volunteered to help spearhead the pilot through her role with the Red Cliffs Families Project.
Aunty Colleen said the pilot’s success came down to community connection.
“I felt from the bottom of my heart that it was a brilliant initiative, as it brought families together and offered bonding time,” Aunty Colleen said.
“A swimming pool is safe space for everyone to come together. Seeing parents interact with their children was wonderful, and I’ve enjoyed sitting back and observing what was going on. It’s been a pleasure to be involved.”
Aunty Colleen said that accessing the pool for free was also a big plus for the community.
“For a lot of families, especially being so close to Christmas, they simply don’t have the money to pay to access services, so this initiative being free is a big bonus,” Aunty Colleen said.
“People can expect to enjoy themselves, with the aim to bring families together – which is the most important thing.”
Residents are encouraged to contact participating pools directly to confirm opening days and times or follow their local pool on social media.
ENDS