Royal Life Saving WA CEO Peter Leaversuch (left) welcomes the announcement by Education Minister Dr Tony Buti (centre, front)

New funding announcement to boost swimming education in WA

Royal Life Saving WA welcomes the weekend’s announcement by Education Minister Dr Tony Buti, that a new specialist School of Swimming and Water Safety will be established to deliver essential lessons to WA school students.

The Cook Labor Government will invest $3.3 million into the project as part of the 2024-25 State Budget, with the School of Swimming and Water Safety to be led by permanent staff from next year.

Royal Life Saving WA CEO Peter Leaversuch says the announcement is one of a number of important steps that need to be taken to ensure WA children learn to swim.

“As we come to the end of what has been a tragic summer, implementing actions to teach more children to swim is timely,” said Mr Leaversuch.

“This specific focus and investment into water safety will support schools in committing to swimming lessons, helping to find the time and place in what is already a busy curriculum. Currently not all schools participate and, if they do, not necessarily for every year of primary school.

“Secondly, the investment will support greater inclusion, meeting the needs of students that may have only recently migrated to WA as well as children with special needs.”

This initiative adds to the recent pilot program introduced by the Cook Government that covered the cost of pool entry in regional areas over the summer.

Royal Life Saving is advocating for the implementation of additional actions by the Department of Education, including:

• Allowing all primary schools (government and non-government) to access the in-term program fee free;
• Covering the cost of bus transport/pool entry for parents that cannot afford to pay this fee; and,
• Setting a standard that every child receives 5 hours of swimming lessons (usually as 10x 30-minute sessions) for every year of primary school.

When it comes to swimming and water safety, collective action will be the key to success. No single government agency can do it alone.

Royal Life Saving will continue to help the government connect schools with local aquatic centres, track student progress, identify service delivery gaps and develop targeted programs that better meed the needs of our regions with the lowest participation rates, namely the Kimberley, Pilbara and Mid West.

You can read the full statement from the Government regarding the new funding initiative here.