Barrels not ballots for Deakin’s international students at surf school

Deakin University's international students are set to make a splash when they swap laptops and lecture rooms for Speedos and surfboards at surf school this weekend.

Dozens of scholars will celebrate the start of summer able to swim for the first time in their lives after putting aside their text books during the year to master the Aussie crawl.

While the rest of the state head to the polling booths on Saturday, Deakin's international students will lap up the waves at Ocean Grove and put their new swimming skills to the test as they learn to surf.

Deakin's Learn to Swim, Surf and Sail program empowers its students who hail from other parts of the world to be safe and aware around Australian waterways.

Life Saving Victoria statistics released recently show Victoria has suffered its highest drowning toll in a decade with 47 deaths in the last financial year. It is the highest toll in 10 years, with six more fatalities than in the previous year and men aged 15-24 considered the highest risk group.

In its first year after three years of planning, the cost of Deakin's potentially life-saving water safety program has been met by the students' own fundraising activities and is run by Deakin YMCA in partnership with Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club.

Deakin YMCA Manager Robyn Mackenzie said the success of the program had astounded students as well as organisers, with more than 80 per cent of participants reporting having made new friends, gained confidence, enjoyed a greater sense of belonging and felt more relaxed as they learned to swim.

"The program captured the imaginations and excitement of the international students who were all very exuberant about learning to swim,'' Ms Mackenzie said.

"But the program has also exposed them to our unique Australian culture of being able to enjoy some healthy recreation, exercise and social fun in and around the water,'' Ms Mackenzie said.

Early plans to offer 20 places in the Swim, Surf and Sail program was extended to 42 after 75 students rushed to sign up to learn to swim on just one day earlier this year.

"There were some students who had never seen the sea, others who have never put their heads underwater. Swimming lessons were carried out in the safety of a pool and the surfing aspect of the program will take place at the beach at Ocean Grove this weekend.''

Ms Mackenzie said the program was about education and awareness around water, while also ensuring the students enjoyed themselves while living and studying in Australia.

"International students are at such risk coming in to such a very different environment,'' she said.

"The program provides an opportunity for them to experience the unique Australian culture and with many not having the opportunity to learn to swim in some of the countries they come from, they need to understand the dangers of our waterways.''

Deakin Vice-Chancellor Jane den Hollander praised the University's international students for launching and participating in the Swim, Surf and Sail program.

"I spend a lot of time with overseas students and I love their dedication to study and to making a life, no matter how short, for themselves here,'' Professor den Hollander said.

"They embrace our lifestyle and our distinctive Australian culture and share their own with us. When they return to their homes abroad, they become ambassadors for Deakin and for Victoria.''

Egyptian swimming stars Hussein and Sherif Haggag, twin brothers and students at Deakin University Geelong, have helped teach their fellow pupils learn to be safe in the water. Both volunteered to use their exceptional swimming skills to help others as part of their Australian studying experience.

Deakin boasts more than 6,000 international students at its Burwood campus and another 1,200 internationals call Geelong and Warrnambool campuses home during their studies.

Students have been encouraged to Slip, Slop and Slap on Saturday with their surfing lessons at the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club to be followed by a traditional Aussie beach barbecue.