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For 81-year-old Anita Cohen, stepping into the pool at Lithgow’s JM Robson Aquatic Centre wasn’t just about learning to swim - it was about rewriting a lifelong story of fear, resilience, and independence. Anita never learned to swim as a child due to a difficult upbringing and lack of support. A non-fatal drowning incident at age five left her with a lingering fear of water that stayed with her well into adulthood. Despite regularly visiting the pool in recent years, she has always relied on swimming noodles for buoyancy and mobility. Living alone now, Anita realised how important it was to look after her own safety and wellbeing: “I live on my own and I thought—I’ve got to look after myself, because no one else is around to do it.” Anita (right) during her lesson. Why the Program Matters The Royal Life Saving NSW Adult Learn to Swim Program offered Anita a chance she never thought she’d have - the opportunity to swim independently, without aids, and with proper technique. Delivered over 10 weeks and tailored for adults, the program breaks down barriers that have kept many older Australians from learning to swim, whether due to fear, access, or life circumstances. Anita’s first lesson was a triumph: floating unassisted for the very first time, something she described as “so exciting.” She hopes that learning proper swimming skills will not only improve her water safety but also support her lung function and chronic pain management. Guided by her late mother’s words - “You’ve got tunnel vision—you can do anything you put your mind to” - Anita is proving that it’s never too late to overcome fears, gain confidence, and embrace new possibilities in the water and beyond. Anita floating unassisted for the first time. Find out more about Project Elevate and how you can get involved here: https://www.drowningprevention.org.au/projectelevate 2 Sept 2025 The People of Project Elevate: Anita's Story Drowning Prevention < Back to News For 81-year-old Anita Cohen, stepping into the pool at Lithgow’s JM Robson Aquatic Centre wasn’t just about learning to swim - it was about rewriting a lifelong story of fear, resilience, and independence. Anita never learned to swim as a child due to a difficult upbringing and lack of support. A non-fatal drowning incident at age five left her with a lingering fear of water that stayed with her well into adulthood. Despite regularly visiting the pool in recent years, she has always relied on swimming noodles for buoyancy and mobility. Living alone now, Anita realised how important it was to look after her own safety and wellbeing: “I live on my own and I thought—I’ve got to look after myself, because no one else is around to do it.” Anita (right) during her lesson. Why the Program Matters The Royal Life Saving NSW Adult Learn to Swim Program offered Anita a chance she never thought she’d have - the opportunity to swim independently, without aids, and with proper technique. Delivered over 10 weeks and tailored for adults, the program breaks down barriers that have kept many older Australians from learning to swim, whether due to fear, access, or life circumstances. Anita’s first lesson was a triumph: floating unassisted for the very first time, something she described as “so exciting.” She hopes that learning proper swimming skills will not only improve her water safety but also support her lung function and chronic pain management. Guided by her late mother’s words - “You’ve got tunnel vision—you can do anything you put your mind to” - Anita is proving that it’s never too late to overcome fears, gain confidence, and embrace new possibilities in the water and beyond. Anita floating unassisted for the first time. Find out more about Project Elevate and how you can get involved here: https://www.drowningprevention.org.au/projectelevate Previous Next < Back to News Related Posts A Great Day on the Green at the Drowning Prevention Golf Day News and Media National Drowning Report 2026: New South Wales drowning toll reinforces need for action News and Media Celebrate World First Aid Day with 10% Off First Aid Training News and Media

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Our dedicated northern office team has been hard at work ensuring safety sessions are held as planned and helping the surrounding community with flood relief efforts and support. Aquatic centres on the Tweed Coast, Northern Rivers, Byron Shire and Richmond River were all affected by recent flooding with some still not open. Key activities and support held in the area recently included: Loaned CPR and First Aid training equipment to Trinity Catholic College so students and staff could continue with planned sessions at an alternative venue. Donation of First Aid kits and supplies to Community Hub in Coraki. Walgett High School – Indigenous students participated in a one-day program including the perform basic water online course as well as lifesaving sessions at the local pool. Students from Uralla and Bundarra Central Schools participated in a similar program, a NSW Youth Week initiative with an energetic and motivated group. “The recent NSW Youth Week program had keen participants, with morning tea, lunch and a “show bag” of useful information and vouchers aimed at their age group provided as part of the funding, we were also able to provide Royal Life Saving hats that proved to be popular,” said Jason Phillips, RLS NSW Northern Regional Manager. Our Northern office has received generous donations and calls to support in any way they can, with suppliers ordering clothing on behalf of flood-affected aquatic centres. Contact our Northern office via email: northern@royalnsw.com.au or call (02) 6651 6266 for more information and how to help. 21 Apr 2022 RLS Northern team lends a hand to flood affected communities Education & Awareness < Back to News Our dedicated northern office team has been hard at work ensuring safety sessions are held as planned and helping the surrounding community with flood relief efforts and support. Aquatic centres on the Tweed Coast, Northern Rivers, Byron Shire and Richmond River were all affected by recent flooding with some still not open. Key activities and support held in the area recently included: Loaned CPR and First Aid training equipment to Trinity Catholic College so students and staff could continue with planned sessions at an alternative venue. Donation of First Aid kits and supplies to Community Hub in Coraki. Walgett High School – Indigenous students participated in a one-day program including the perform basic water online course as well as lifesaving sessions at the local pool. Students from Uralla and Bundarra Central Schools participated in a similar program, a NSW Youth Week initiative with an energetic and motivated group. “The recent NSW Youth Week program had keen participants, with morning tea, lunch and a “show bag” of useful information and vouchers aimed at their age group provided as part of the funding, we were also able to provide Royal Life Saving hats that proved to be popular,” said Jason Phillips, RLS NSW Northern Regional Manager. Our Northern office has received generous donations and calls to support in any way they can, with suppliers ordering clothing on behalf of flood-affected aquatic centres. Contact our Northern office via email: northern@royalnsw.com.au or call (02) 6651 6266 for more information and how to help. Previous Next < Back to News Related Posts A Great Day on the Green at the Drowning Prevention Golf Day News and Media National Drowning Report 2026: New South Wales drowning toll reinforces need for action News and Media Celebrate World First Aid Day with 10% Off First Aid Training News and Media

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