Tomaree Neighbourhood Centre will begin early intervention swim safety lessons for children aged 1-3 years old and aged 1-12 years old with disabilities at Tomaree Aquatic Centre on Friday.

"It's really important because of where we live, surrounded by the water, that children know how to swim," Clare Saunders, a program support officer at the Salamander Bay-based TNC, said.

"Australia's drowning statistics are scary. The most prevalent age for drowning deaths in Australia is children aged 1-3 years and 89.1 per cent of the drownings that do occur are this age group.

"Statistics also show that a disabled child is 160 times more likely to drown than a neurotypical child.

"TNC is always looking at ways that we can help the community through early intervention."

The 10-week swim program, made possible with a $6000 AGL grant, equips participants with googles, sunscreen, rash vest and hat.

Ms Saunders, who secured the grant money for the program, said the centre had been generously gifted bags for the program's swimming kits by the Mad Monday Quilters group.

Parents and carers of the participating children in the program will also be put through a CPR course.

Ms Saunders said this was due to statistics that showed that 66.3 per cent of parents and carers performed CPR in a drowning incident.

While most spots in the program have been filled, Ms Saunders encouraged interested participants to contact the centre on (02) 4984 6220.

The program will run until December 17.