Kari Baynes - Dangerous Blogger — katiemac publicity

Kari Baynes - Embracing The New Swimmer, The New Australian

“Imagine if swimming were part of the induction to Australia. What if we established an SSL course to run concurrently with our ESL programs – Swimming as a Second Language?” Kari Baynes, Director at Different Strokes Swimming and Sydney Swimmers, GAICD.

This past summer NSW’s beaches and waterways have sadly been home to the untimely deaths of adults who’ve been unable to swim. This loss of life is a sad indictment on our ability to ensure the safety of new Australians in our waterways. Who wouldn’t want to join the bronzed citizens lying in formation on the beach and occasionally hurling themselves into the surf, totally at ease with the frothy mass. It’s idyllic and part of being Australian.

Those of us who work with the most recent members to our community know how keen they are to integrate. Many come to my swim school hoping that swimming will bring them closer to being Australian. They see their ability to manage the water as critical to their immersion in our society. Their nervous anticipation to master this thing called swimming is palpable. The determination to succeed astounds me. But then their journey to this place would leave most us wrecked, so I shouldn’t be surprised.

Over 80% of the clients at Different Strokes Swimming are made up of new Australians or overseas students. My team and I take time assisting new swimmers to acclimatise in this foreign wet environment; slowly, slowly building their confidence. Through continuous encouragement, gentle prodding and effective techniques given in small classes, we help them reach their goals. We have no judgement. We understand the need for some to camouflage their bodies, to have a specific gender of instructor and the sheer courage it takes for them to get into a public swimming pool. Some have never seen a pool before, let alone been in one. Can you imagine what it would be like!

But all is not well. We do a lot in this country when it comes supporting the underdog, the new person on the block. We’re generally seen around the world as an easy-going people with a laconic style, willing to give everything a crack and everyone a fair go. We see ourselves as belonging to the ‘lucky country’. But it’s not so lucky for everyone. Perhaps we turned a blind eye to migrants when it comes to their ability to swim? They don’t know what they don’t know. It is for us to take care; they don’t know.

For refugees, new migrants or overseas students, Australia is a remote land offering opportunities in the sun and freedoms in speech, dress and lifestyle. All this set in a landscape surrounded by bush, bordered by ocean and fed by many rivers. Swimming is a life skill and one you keep for life. How can we help them understand the way of the water?

I am passionate about swimming and sharing my joy with new swimmers. Nothing excites me more than someone swimming their first 50 metres. The absolute joy on their faces. The fear overcome. An Everest climbed.

When we work with our swimmers, we know they get the attention they deserve; the respect and care. They really shine. The ripple-out effect is enormous too. Mastering a skill once wrapped in fear – one that seemed near-impossible – is very powerful. How wonderful it would be to increase the number of new adult swimmers. We would save lives; avoiding the loss and cost of these tragic summer drownings.

Imagine if swimming were part of the induction to Australia. What if we established an SSL course to run concurrently with our ESL programs – Swimming as a Second Language?

The sense of freedom it would provide, to float in coolness and begin to move through the fluid; slowly, slowly developing your confidence as you start to make your way down the pool. It is not dissimilar to finding your way in a new community.

The many benefits swimming offers go far beyond the physical and practical skill. The sense of achievement for many is transformative. The healing power of water is calming, the quietness so cathartic. What a difference that could make. How delighted people would be to receive their Certificate of SSL.

Let’s direct our passion and pride as a nation of swimmers to nurture those who have just arrived. Let’s equip them for this new life. As custodians of our land, let’s help those less familiar find comfort and safety in this foreign place. Help them become Australians who swim; our latest and newest swimmers. Those of us working in the aquatic industry and who work with new Australians can each do our bit. Let’s stop these deaths and improve the quality of life for the latest members of our community.

Kari has had an impressive career in the media industry with roles including Head of Business Development, Group Advertising Director, and Project Lead for News Corp Australia.

Throughout her 25 year career holding senior strategic leadership roles, balancing health, well being and fun has been critical to her success. In 2010 Kari took up swimming to improve her fitness and reduce stress. Through learning freestyle, she developed a passion for swimming and realised that it is possible to learn a new skill when you are nearly 50!

Recognising a gap in the fitness and well being market in areas such as learn to swim, continuous stroke correction and structured recreational pool and open water swimming, Kari established Different Strokes Swimming. By setting up a swim school for adults she also identified the opportunity for social and corporate networking opportunities for busy executives, mothers’ groups and retired athletes.

Kari’s vision utilising her strong commercial and strategic acumen, is to assist everyone, no matter what age or skill, to find their own zen with swimming. Kari holds an AUSTSWIM Teacher Licence.

Kari Baynes - Are You Scared Of Drowning, Too?

“I realise my own family went through a drowning incident when I was very young…an ambulance was called and he was very fortunately brought back to life. This situation was rarely spoken of in the family” Kari Baynes

Her eyes appeared to smart as she held back the tears. Her fear was palpable. The tenacity and determination she had mustered to get here. Rushing to get here in her busy life. She must learn, if for no other reason than the sake of her son. Yes, even she couldn’t believe she was here, wearing her neck-to-ankle suit to prevent any chance of a tan, donned cap and goggles. She was poolside ready to have her swimming lesson.

We’ll call her Joy. Like several of my clients, Joy has arrived to learn to swim wearing an invisible boulder around her neck. The boulder of fear. The fear of drowning. A fear that stems from an experience that happened to her recently or in childhood, possibly one that permeated the life of her entire family.

In my role as the owner of an adult swim school, I meet people who have been touched by a drowning or near-drowning incident. This fear acts as a double-edged sword, driving people to the pool to learn to swim, but paralysing them when they get there. It’s hard to learn to swim when you’re ridged with anxiety.

Drownings very sadly, made headlines in the media all too frequently this summer. Impacting all age groups. Children in pools, adults rescuing others in surf and open waters, swimmers in flooding rivers, all in all, too many. Traumatising all those involved. Shocking audiences and the broader Australian community. There has been an outcry. Every Australian child should be able to swim 50m by the time they leave school. Recent studies show this is not the case. The swimming ability of this nation’s children falls way short. What about the adults?

The number of adults wishing to learn to swim has increased in line with the number of new Australians and overseas students entering the country. But it’s not just new Australians. What about those of us who have grown up here and slipped through the cracks when it came to swimming lessons? Many adults from all backgrounds come to us with a deep-seated fear of the water.

Sometimes prospective swimmers are not even conscious of their heightened anxiety. It is submerged within and deeply personal. It creeps up on them as they start to move through the water, as they try to float and give in to the watery environment or the first time they’re taken out of their depth. It is this anxiety that can lead them into trouble without the support of a sensitive, well-trained instructor. It can see them give up.

Working through a progression of drills to develop the skills to learn to swim in a secure environment, assists in building confidence. In my experience this is the best way is to look into the eye of the tiger, to ‘face the fear and do it anyway’, holding the metaphoric hand of someone more experienced as you do. Becoming familiar with the water is fundamental. We say ‘touch the water’ as often as possible. Get into your nearest pool frequently and practise.

As I reflect on my own experience learning to swim freestyle as an adult, I realise my own family went through a drowning incident when I was very young. My younger brother, a baby at the time, crawled into the swimming pool of friends’ of my parents. I can vaguely remember pieces of the event, the panic, the shouting. An ambulance was called and he was very fortunately brought back to life. This situation was rarely spoken of in the family and I’m not sure he would spend any time thinking about it. I believe it adversely affected my parents. Very quietly they would individually refer to it from time to time. This no doubt led to my father’s overprotective nature near swimming pools and my mother’s concern for us bathing at the beach. My mother’s concern was further exasperated by her lack of confidence in the water, only swimming a small amount of breaststroke. She was born in Europe.

The need for sensitivity and gentleness is critical in a swim instructor helping a frightened participant. Small classes with instructors who are in the water during the lesson are essential. Deep water familiarisation needs to take place. With exposure to different water levels and the development of skills, so comes courage and then confidence.

My eighty two year old mother is about to start learn to swim classes. I’m excited for her and hope by teaching her to swim we’ll help her overcome her fear of the water. It just proves you’re never too old to learn. It’s never too late to release yourself and enjoy the freedom and pleasure that swimming offers. Most importantly you’ll become a water safe Australian adult!

Kari has had an impressive career in the media industry with roles including Head of Business Development, Group Advertising Director, and Project Lead for News Corp Australia.