Swimming pools in South Australia's far north are offering relief from summer heat for the area's remote Aboriginal communities.
Following extensive works by the South Australian government, pools have been opened at schools in Pipalyatjara, Amata and Yalata on the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, with a pool at Pukatja/Ernabella opened on Saturday.
After being impacted by a plumbing issue, the government is also working to re-open the pool at Mimili for community use, following its successful opening for school use during term 4.
The pool openings in the Anangu communities are made possible through the Attorney-General's Department – Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, however some pools have been closed due to challenges recruiting appropriately trained staff to SA's most remote communities, as well as maintenance issues.
South Australian Attorney-General Kyam Maher said the government is committed to ensuring Aboriginal communities thrive, with pool reopening projects playing "an important role in achieving that".
"Being able to stay cool and keep active while having a fun time during the hot summer months will be of great benefit for the community," Minister Maher said.
"This work is in addition to the more than $2 million in funding allocated earlier this year for upgrading infrastructure and facilities in the APY Lands, which included youth centre upgrades and art facilities."
The government said in areas where there are few formal recreational facilities combined with temperatures regularly in the 40s over the summer months, swimming pools are a valuable and popular community asset for remote Aboriginal communities.
To address pool staffing challenges, South Australian Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer, requested a program of work through the Department for Education to support site leaders to ensure as many pools as possible were open over the summer.
A targeted recruitment campaign was undertaken to recruit and appoint suitable pool managers with appropriate operator and lifeguard qualifications.
"Staffing pools in remote areas with qualified pool staff has been a significant challenge, and this has been vitally important to ensure the safety of pool users." Mr Boyer said.
"However, I understand the value of these assets, in terms of recreation, community cohesion, and as a way of encouraging students to attend school, so I have made it a priority to open these pools."
Mr Boyer said in addition to the department's recruitment campaign, additional financial incentives were provided in order to recruit appropriately, and worked closely with Royal Lifesaving SA and Surf Lifesaving SA to deliver training to pool staff.
"Having visited these communities, I know that the swimming pools provide so much value to the locals, as well as the regions, with students from other APY Lands communities able visit these pools to have swimming lessons and enjoy a splash in the pool," he said.
Students from Kaltjiti (Fregon), Indulkana and Kenmore Park will be able to travel to Mimili to use the swimming pool facilities once operational, while students at Murputja will travel to Pipalyatjara.
The government said in addition to providing every pool with new rescue and safety equipment, the department's Water Safety program for school students - which has been delivered to students on the APY Lands in partnership with Surf Lifesaving SA for more than 20 years - has also been provided at Mimili and Amata.
