Overview

Learning to Swim and Survive is a vital life skill that all Western Australian children need to safely participate on, in and around water. The Swim and Survive program identifies 16 critical stages in a child’s development. The lower stages focus on teaching efficient support and movement in the water. The higher stages include skill and knowledge in safety, survival and rescue, all while developing a strong and effective swimming technique.

Watch the video below to see the impact our Swim and Survive program has had on the community over the years.


Development Strands

Swim and Survive is a swimming and water safety program that is aligned to the National Swimming and Water Safety Framework and develops skills across the following areas:

  • Entries and exits skills teach children to determine the safest entry and exit method for a range of aquatic environments.
  • Sculling and body orientation enable children to gain mobility in the aquatic environment and are vital skills for developing swimming and survival skills.
  • Underwater skills This strand aims to provide the student with the skills that may enable them to escape from dangers or search for a submerged object
  • Swimming strokes develops efficient and effective stroke technique and the ability to adapt the strokes to suit the conditions of the environment. Fitness and endurance increases through the progression of levels.
  • Survival skills includes the teaching of survival techniques and strategies for a range of emergency situations, including the use of lifejackets.
  • Rescue skills equip children with the required skills to perform a range of rescues depending on the emergency situation, the environment and prevailing conditions.
  • Water safety knowledge develops an understanding of a range of swimming and water safety issues that underpins safety in and around the water.