Queensland Government hosts water safety skills summit

Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace today hosted a roundtable discussion with key stakeholders to explore options for improving swimming and water safety skills for all Queensland children.

Prompted by a media campaign calling for wider provision of swimming lessons in schools, the Water Safety Roundtable confirmed the audit of the programs currently being run in schools as well as looking at options to improve.

The Roundtable was attended by Surf Life Saving Queensland, Royal Life Saving Association - Australia, AUSTSWIM, Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association, P&Cs Queensland, Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association, Parents and Friends Federation, Principals’ Association Presidents, Independent Schools Queensland and the Queensland Catholic Education Commission as well as representatives from a range of government agencies including Education Queensland, Department of Local Government and Multicultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation, Child Safety and the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Minister Grace commented “in a state like ours, swimming and water sports are a way of life and the safety of our children in and around water is paramount.

“We already know, because research tells us, that the earlier children learn to swim, the better and I urge every parent to ensure their child can swim before they reach school age.

“We all have a role to play in addressing this issue of water safety and that is why I wanted to bring stakeholders together today.

“It was a chance to bring the stakeholders up to date with the latest information about everything the government does around teaching children to swim and improving their water skills and look at every option available to do it better.

“One of the most important statistics is that we have 1003 state schools in Queensland, and there are currently just 18 that do not have a learn to swim program.

“The clear message I took from the discussion was that teaching children to swim is not just about what’s done in schools. It’s about collaborating with all the brilliant Queensland organisations that have skin in the game to provide the best possible solutions, no matter where those children are, their cultural background or family circumstances.

“A range of issues were discussed – not only potential strategies for our schools, but also in the broader community.

“I am convinced that only good can come from this exercise because no good idea will be ignored. Everyone here today has the same aim.”

Surf Life Saving Queensland Chief Executive John Brennan echoed the sentiments, advising “no single body has responsibility for this issue. It is very exciting that for the first time in Queensland so many stakeholders are sitting around the same table and discussing what we can do to improve swimming safety.

Paul Barry, Executive Director of Royal Life Saving Society Queensland said it was misguided to think that simply making swimming lessons in schools compulsory would improve outcomes.

Barry commented “what is clear is that schools are innovative and many of them have great programs that would be lost or weakened if they were made to fit a centralised model.

“We want to work with individual schools on programs that best fit their circumstances and resources.”

Minister Grace flagged the Queensland Government’s water safety achievements of recent years, adding “in recent years, we have dramatically tightened pool fencing laws and invested more in programs to promote safe swimming.

“According to the most recent data 98% of state primary schools provide learn to swim programs for all pupils, from Prep to Year 6, that are determined by the principal in consultation with their local community.

“And this year the State Government has committed to increase funding by 50% to $1.5 million to support the Learn to Swim program in state primary schools.

“Already 849 state primary schools receive these grants and more than 150 state schools have swimming pools on their school grounds.”

Minister Grace also said parents should also ensure their children were taught how to swim at the earliest opportunity.

Further meetings of the Water Safety Roundtable are scheduled for 20th April and June.

Image courtesy of Surf Life Saving Queensland

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