Half Of Australian Primary School Children Can't

Almost Half Of Australian Year 5 And 6 Students Can't Swim 50 Metres As Schools Cut Water Safety Programs

Budget pressures and pool closures are leaving a generation of Australian kids without essential swimming skills in a nation surrounded by water.

Sarah Mitchell

Education Correspondent

30 April 2026
3 min read

The Year 3 class lines up at the pool edge, but only twelve of the twenty-four students can make it to the other end without stopping. Welcome to the reality facing Australian primary schools in 2024.

Swimming lesson programs are disappearing from school timetables across the country. Transport costs have doubled since 2019. Pool maintenance has become prohibitive for many local councils. And the numbers tell a stark story about what we're losing.

According to Royal Life Saving Australia research published in 2023, approximately half of Year 5 and 6 students cannot swim the recommended 50 metres continuously. The organisation's National Drowning Report consistently shows that children aged 5 to 14 represent one of the highest risk groups for preventable drowning deaths.

But here's what the statistics don't capture: the widening gap between families who can afford private lessons and those who cannot. When schools cut swimming programs, they're often the only opportunity for systematic water safety education that reaches every child, regardless of postcode or family income.

The Australian Water Safety Council guidelines recommend that all children achieve basic swimming competency by age ten. That means 50 metres of continuous swimming, basic rescue skills, and water survival techniques. Yet funding pressures mean many schools are reducing programs from ten weeks to five, or eliminating them entirely.

"We've had to make some really tough choices," explains one primary school principal in western Sydney, who asked not to be named. "When you're looking at cutting art supplies or swimming lessons, both feel essential."

The ripple effects extend beyond individual swimming ability. Group lessons teach children to recognise when others are in trouble. They learn that water can be both recreational and dangerous. These aren't skills you pick up in a backyard pool or at the beach with distracted parents scrolling their phones.

Some states are fighting back. The Victorian Department of Education mandates swimming and water safety programs, though implementation varies wildly between schools. Queensland's Learn to Swim program provides subsidies, but waiting lists stretch for months in regional areas.

Meanwhile, drowning remains the leading cause of unintentional injury death for Australian children aged 1 to 4, according to Kidsafe Australia data. The Surf Life Saving Australia Bronze Medallion program reports that basic swimming competency could prevent up to 80 per cent of childhood drowning incidents.

The solution isn't complicated, just expensive. Schools need guaranteed funding for transport, pool hire, and qualified instructors. Local councils need support for pool maintenance and accessibility upgrades. And families need programs that don't depend on their ability to pay.

Some innovative schools are partnering with local swim clubs or running intensive holiday programs. Others are crowdfunding or seeking corporate sponsorship. But these shouldn't be necessary for such a fundamental life skill in a country where water is everywhere.

Your child's ability to swim shouldn't depend on your postcode or your principal's fundraising skills. In Australia, it should be as basic as learning to read.

Frequently Asked Questions

What swimming skills should my primary school child have by age 10?

According to Australian Water Safety Council guidelines, children should achieve basic swimming competency by age ten. This includes swimming 50 metres continuously using recognisable strokes, treading water for two minutes, performing basic rescue techniques like throwing a flotation device, and understanding water safety rules. They should also be able to enter water safely, float on their back for 30 seconds, and swim underwater for short distances. If your child's school doesn't offer comprehensive swimming programs, consider supplementing with community lessons or holiday intensive courses to ensure they meet these essential benchmarks.

How can I ensure my child learns to swim if our school has cut swimming lessons?

Start by checking if your local council offers subsidised learn-to-swim programs, as many provide affordable options for families. Surf Life Saving clubs often run community programs during school holidays that combine swimming skills with water safety education. Some swim schools offer payment plans or sibling discounts that can make private lessons more accessible. You can also investigate whether nearby schools still run programs that accept external students for a fee, or look into intensive holiday programs that cover basic competency in a shorter timeframe. Remember that group lessons often provide better water safety awareness than one-on-one instruction, as children learn to be aware of others in the water.