The grant, announced by the Australian Embassy in Hanoi on May 18, will be used for training swimming and drowning prevention for 110 instructors, who will then transfer the skills to children aged between 6 and years in 13 flood-prone provinces in the region.

The training will be undertaken by the Vietnam National Aquatic Sports Association (VNASA), which will publish manuals on basic swimming techniques and drowning prevention for distribution in An Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Duong, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Dong Thao, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Long An, Tay Ninh, Tien Giang and Vinh Long.

This is the second grant VNSA has received from the Australian Sports Commission-financed Australian Sports Outreach Programme (ASOP). In 2008, VASA used Australian funds to provide swimming and life-saving training to more than 170 children and youth in the Mekong delta.

The Australian Sports Outreach Progamme supports community participation and physical activity in the Asia-Pacific region. With an annual budget of about AUD 270,000 (VND3.5 billion), it also addresses broader community issues such as health promotion, leadership and social cohesion through sport and physical activities.