More than half of all children in Australia may be missing out on swimming lessons

Swimming teacher and children at a Melbourne pool November 20 2023 SBS.jpg

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An alarming number of children are not being enrolled in swimming lessons in Australia, because their parents think they're too young. A new campaign is aiming to boost the number of under-5s taking to the pool, with evidence that cost is also proving a deterrent to tuition.


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Four year old twins Chase and Cynthia have no shortage of enthusiasm at this swim school in Melbourne.

They're part of an important cohort, taking the plunge and learning to swim.

These lessons have earned not just their approval, but mother Cherry Li's too.

"I think swimming is not just exercise, it's not just for fun. It's a lifesaving skill for their whole life. It's very very important. I always say if it's just one sport I can choose for my kids, it would pick swimming."

Water safety group AUSTSWIM says more than half of all children in Australia are not enrolled in lessons.

The Victorian state manager for AUSTSWIM is Angus Milner.

"We've estimated that 53 percent of families that have pulled out of lessons are because of financial situations, so we understand that that is a major hurdle. But it's really encouraging that we've seen data that families are cost cutting in other areas to try and keep their children in swimming lessons which is fantastic."

Data compiled by SWIM Australia shows two in five families don't have their children in lessons because they believe they're too young to swim.

Despite that, more than half of parents aren't confident in their child's skills if they get into trouble in the water.

The rising cost of living is also having an impact, with nearly four in ten believing swimming lessons are too expensive.

But for Cherry Li, the cost of enrolling her twins is money well spent, given the peace of mind it brings.

"Younger age is actually easier for them to build the confidence with the water, get familiar with the water, and reduce the fear of the water as well, because when you grow up, you might think too much and it might be a little bit difficult for you to get familiar with the water. It takes longer for you to build the confidence to get into the water.'"

Swimsafer Week's aim is to get as many children into swimming as possible.

But as Ms Li says, it's never too late for anyone, of any age, to brush up on their water skills.

"I only know very basic swimming skills but I would like to improve with some other style as well, so I was thinking of scheduling myself in swimming lessons as well."

The prospect of more time in the pool is no doubt something her twins would welcome.

 

 

 

 

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