- Audit shows 99% of schools deliver swimming lessons
- New program will support HPE teachers to get swimming instructor qualifications
- Grant fund to reduce costs for schools and families will quadruple
- No child will miss out due to financial hardship
An audit of Queensland State Schools has shown 98.7% of schools are offering water safety and swimming education in 2023, including in water swimming lessons that are aligned to the National Swimming and Water Safety Framework.
Of the 1,072 schools surveyed, only 14 state primary schools and special schools were not providing a program.
One of the reasons raised was access to qualified instructors, so the Palaszczuk Government will provide funding to support up to 50 HPE teachers to undertake accredited water safety and swimming instructor training each year.
Other schools were in very remote locations, and intensive support will be provided to those schools to ensure a swimming program can be delivered in future.
The audit highlighted successful partnerships that other rural schools can model, such as the one between Drillham and Dulcacca State Schools.
During the audit the department also spoke to schools about contributions from parents and carers. Around half of families were making some sort of contribution, usually between $20 and $40 a year. This goes towards things like transport costs and pool admission fees.
All schools without a swimming pool already automatically receive a share of the $3.5 million Learn to Swim funding. Separately, a Water Safety and Swimming Education Grant is available to schools facing additional barriers and that are unable to cover costs from their existing budget. In 2022 a total of $150,000 was available. In 2023, this will be more than quadrupled to $650,000 to help reduce costs for schools and families.
This will take the annual funding for schools without a pool to $4.2 million and is in addition to the money invested for teaching time, staff development, infrastructure investment, and pool maintenance for schools that have pools.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Education Grace Grace:
"Our audit shows that almost all state schools – 98.7% – are already delivering high-quality water safety and swimming education programs. This is a responsibility that schools take seriously, and I thank them and acknowledge their excellent work meeting it.
"There is still a very small number of schools not delivering a program and I am committed to ensuring that all students will have access to these potentially life-saving lessons, regardless of their circumstances.
"The 14 schools who are not delivering a program in 2023 are facing a range of challenges, including access to an instructor and being several hours away from their nearest pool.
"Whether it's funding swimming instructor qualifications for HPE teachers, developing partnerships between rural and remote schools, or providing extra funding – we will work intensely with these schools to ensure they can deliver a swimming program for their students.
"We are also more than quadrupling the amount available in our Water Safety and Swimming Education Grant pot from $150,000 to $650,000.
"This will help reduce the costs for schools and families, but for those facing hardship we will ensure there are special arrangements so no child misses out.
"Schools have an important role to play, but children should be learning how to be safe around water long before they start school, and it needs to continue beyond the school gates.
"That's why the Palaszczuk Government supports swimming outside of schools with Fair Play Vouchers and Active Club grants, and through our $30m election commitment for Surf Life Saving Queensland."
