Australia Faces Alarming Decline in Children's Swimming Skills
Nearly half of year 6 students cannot meet basic swimming benchmarks, with rising drowning fatalities and calls for increased funding to address the crisis.
- New research reveals that 48% of Australian year 6 students cannot swim 50 meters or tread water for two minutes, falling short of national safety benchmarks.
- Drowning deaths rose to 104 during the 2024-25 summer, including 10 children under 14, highlighting the urgent need for improved water safety skills.
- School swimming programs are declining, with 31% of schools offering no lessons, citing financial and logistical barriers, and 25% discontinuing swimming carnivals entirely.
- Children from low-income and regional backgrounds are disproportionately impacted, with many unable to access lessons due to cost and limited resources.
- Advocacy groups, including Royal Life Saving Australia, are urging increased funding, targeted grants, and infrastructure improvements to address these challenges.
The Sydney Morning Herald 
The Guardian 