Nearly Half of Australian Year 6 Students Fail to Meet Basic Swimming Standards

The decline in swimming skills, linked to socioeconomic factors and pandemic disruptions, raises drowning risks and prompts calls for targeted interventions.

• Research shows 48% of Australian year 6 students cannot swim 50 meters or tread water for two minutes, with minimal improvement by year 10.
• Participation in school swimming carnivals has plummeted, with one in four schools abandoning the event and only half of eligible students participating where held.
• Socioeconomic disparities play a significant role, as children from lower-income and regional areas are disproportionately affected by the lack of access to swimming lessons.
• The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted swimming education, contributing to a decline in skills, with many children missing lessons or stopping before acquiring critical water safety abilities.
• The NSW government has launched a new program offering free swimming lessons to at-risk groups, while Royal Life Saving Australia calls for increased funding and infrastructure improvements to address the crisis.

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The Sydney Morning Herald The Sydney Morning Herald The Sydney Morning Herald The Guardian