Local swim school back with a splash with help from a COVID-19 Jobs Support Loan

The loan scheme administered by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA), provides finance of up to $250,000 for businesses and non-profit organisations impacted by COVID-19 to assist with carry-on expenses such as employee wages, rent and rates and other expenditure. 

Owner Shad Royston said the loan had been a big relief to him and his wife, Toni’s, swim school business through the shutdown period. 

“It will be good to get back, it’s been a stressful time being closed and having no income. I think at the rate that everything changed, it caused so much anxiety for everyone,” he said.  

“The COVID-19 Jobs Support Loan from QRIDA really helped from a cashflow perspective. It was just a big help to have the extra money in the bank. 

“We used the loan to assist with meeting overheads and other day-to-day expenses in the wake of declining revenue from the onset of COVID-19 restrictions.”  

The relief the COVID-19 Jobs Support Loan provided for business cashflow allowed Above and Beyond Swim School to focus their existing funds on installing cleaning equipment to prepare the swimming pools for a safe return. 

Mr Royston said the Above and Beyond Swim School staff and customers were looking forward to the business re-opening. 

“We have a heated pool to cater for the colder months and I think a lot of customers are looking forward to coming back and getting active again,” he said. 

“We also offer hydrotherapy services as a part of the NDIS scheme, so we work a lot with children that have disabilities. 

“The swim school is an important service to the community.” 

Existing COVID-19 Jobs Support Loan clients can find important information about the ongoing management of their loans on the COVID-19 Jobs Support Loan page.

QRIDA is delivering the $1 billion COVID-19 Jobs Support Loan Scheme on behalf of the Queensland Government.