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LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY
Learn to Swim for at Risk Communities
Every person should have the opportunity to develop the swimming, survival and water-safety skills needed to participate safely—regardless of postcode, income, language, culture or ability.
OUR POSITION
Swimming and water safety are essential life skills.
Access to swimming education is not equal. For many children and adults, the barriers are not a lack of willingness to learn—they are cost, distance, limited program availability, language, confidence and a lack of culturally or physically accessible options.
Royal Life Saving is advocating for a coordinated NSW investment program that identifies unmet need, funds sustained learning and measures the skills participants achieve.
THE CASE FOR CHANGE
Ability should shape the lesson. Not access to it.
Swimming and water safety are essential life skills, but access to learning is not equal. Cost, distance, language, confidence, disability and limited program availability can prevent people from starting or continuing lessons.
Royal Life Saving is calling for a coordinated NSW investment program that removes these barriers, funds sustained learning and measures the skills participants achieve.
People born overseas account for around 34% of all drowning deaths in Australia.
Around 48% of Year 6 students do not meet the national swimming and water safety benchmark.
Around 40% of Year 7–10 students cannot meet the primary school swimming benchmark.
Around one in ten children aged 5–14 have never participated in formal swimming lessons.
OUR ADVOCACY PRIORITY
A funded pathway from access to achievement.
A statewide program would remove barriers and fund enough participation for people to develop lasting skills.
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Remove access barriers
Fund fees, transport, equipment and additional support according to local need.
Measure progression
Track recognised skills, confidence and continued aquatic participation.
Deliver sustained education
Support enough lessons for participants to acquire and consolidate essential skills.
THE PROPOSED APPROACH
Turning priorities into coordinated action.
A practical framework that brings together government, industry and communities to support clear leadership, coordinated delivery and measurable long-term outcomes.
01
Clear Direction
Establish a shared vision, defined priorities and a clear pathway for coordinated action.
02
Government Leadership
Provide the policy direction, commitment and oversight needed to drive lasting change.
03
Shared Responsibility
Define the roles of government, industry, organisations and community partners.
04
Local Delivery
Allow implementation to respond to the different needs, risks and circumstances of each community.
05
Sustainable Investment
Support long-term planning and delivery through appropriate and reliable investment.
06
Measurable outcomes
Set clear targets and monitor progress to demonstrate impact and guide continuous improvement.
PRIORITY COMMUNITIES
Focus effort where change will matter most.
A strong strategy combines a whole-of-population approach with targeted action addressing elevated risk, unequal access and weaknesses within the prevention system.
Regional
Regional and remote communities
Support people affected by limited facilities, seasonal pools, long distances and transport barriers.
Multicultural
Multicultural and newly arrived communities
Culturally appropriate education and pathways into swimming, aquatic recreation and community participation.
Low Socio Economic
Communities experiencing disadvantage
Reduced financial, transport and participation barriers so essential skills are not determined by postcode or income.
WHAT WE ARE CALLING FOR
A statewide commitment to swimming and water-safety equity.
NSW Government leadership can turn fragmented short-term opportunities into an enduring, evidence-led pathway.
1
Establish a dedicated access fund
Provide multi-year NSW Government funding for swimming and water-safety education in priority communities.
2
Map participation and unmet need
Identify geographic, financial, cultural and capability gaps using consistent statewide evidence.
3
Fund complete education pathways
Support sustained skill development rather than isolated lessons or short-term participation.
4
Build local delivery capability
Invest in qualified teachers, community partnerships, accessible facilities and culturally responsive delivery.
5
Measure skills and long-term outcomes
Report who participates, what skills they achieve and whether they continue in aquatic activity.