Posted on 01/02/2006 2:13:44 AM PST by Aussie Dasher
THE typical blond, blue-eyed lifesaver is being challenged by a Victorian Government program to get people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds involved in the volunteer service.
The campaign, backed by a $3 million grant, has the double aims of promoting racial tolerance and reducing drownings among people from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Acting Premier John Thwaites said today the Victorian Government and Life Saving Victoria had begun recruiting "multicultural ambassadors" to spread water safety messages as part of the state's Play it Safe by the Water campaign.
The campaign is being delivered in 15 languages as well as English.
"We have also appointed 15 multicultural spokespeople and invested in print, TV and outdoor advertising," Mr Thwaites said.
The push was kicked off last year when the Sandridge Lifesaving Club announced plans to attract and train lifesavers from diverse backgrounds.
Twenty four people with backgrounds from countries including Kuwait, Lebanon, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sudan have been recruited as part of the project.
"Volunteers play a vital role in our community, (so) it's important our volunteers reflect the diversity of the wider community and build on Victoria's reputation for tolerance," Mr Thwaites said today.
He said the Play it Safe by the Water campaign had been expanded this summer to get basic water safety messages across to as many people as possible and reduce the number of drownings among people from non-English speaking backgrounds.
The campaign is being funded through the Victorian Volunteer Small Grants Program.
How about the Vic Govt spends some money teaching migrants how to speak English and ASSIMILATE with the rest of us...
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