A shortage of swimming teachers means two classes won't be offered in the second half of the local learn-to-swim season.
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Parkes Shire councillors heard infants and advanced classes could not be offered in second five-week series of lessons as council simply couldn't recruit qualified teachers to run them.
A post to the Parkes Aquatic Centre Facebook page said "pond" classes, water familiarisation programs where little ones from six months have a parent in the water with them, and "dolphin" classes where older children develop their swimming technique, would be cut.
Councillor Jacob Cass brought the issue before council as a matter of urgency, and asked about the council's plans to ensure they could offer the full complement of classes next summer.
"Pool and water safety for our children is a critical focus, and I believe Parkes Shire Council should be leading the charge on this," Cr Cass said.
"Can we look into funding to train more of our residents as Learn To Swim Instructors so that we can secure our pipeline of staff and be encouraging upskilling in our community."
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The written response said council would continue to offer training and seek additional staff, but there may be deferment of classes until staffing was obtained.
General manager Kent Boyd said it had been an exceptional year with staff shortages everywhere, and Parkes had been fortunate to keep all facilities operational.
"This is one of the examples where we've had to cut back," he said.
"I think we've found we've had some key staff take on other jobs. There has been a number of other staff trained."
Mr Boyd said the decision had been made to focus on the age groups learning crucial survival skills: the middle levels of swim training, where children from four years of age develop independence in the water including floating and basic skills such as submerging, freestyle and backstroke, will be offered.
The next level of classes where children develop survival skills and swimming strokes are also ongoing and you can find registration details on the Parkes Shire Council website.
"It is a major issue, one that's caught us by surprise a bit," Mayor Ken Keith said.
"But we've advertised and we just can't get sufficient staff to fill those roles."
Councillors asked about training opportunities for staff, but the general manager did add that council should consider the possibility they could outsource the pool management in future.
"It's definitely something we need to try to gear up for if we're going to run the pool next year or run learn-to-swim, we will definitely be doing more training to get people through," Mr Boyd said.
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