State swim program audit welcomed by Far North instructors

An audit of the effectiveness of Queensland’s current water safety and swimming education programs has been welcomed by a veteran Far North swim instructor.

An audit of the effectiveness of Queensland’s current water safety and swimming education programs has been welcomed by a veteran Far North swim instructor, while another said more teachers and more funding was required.

Acting Premier Steven Miles announced on Monday the government had ordered the Department of Education to ensure the program was being delivered to expectations.

While it is mandatory for state schools to provide swim lessons to primary school children, recent reports by News Corp revealed there were a number of issues with the way this rule was being implemented.

In the Far North, some of the key issues raised were the lack of time dedicated to learning swim skills, a preference for other sport and a shortage of teachers.

Veteran swimming instructor Katie Cox said the department’s inquiry was a welcome move, as every school delivered programs differently, and some with more stringent about requirements than others.

Cairns swim instructor Katie Cox at her home training pool in Mooroobool. Picture: Brian Cassey

“Mother of Good Counsel is a school I worked with and they expected very clear outcomes and issued clear certifications to show the skills completed during the course,” Ms Cox said. “Very clear with the levels. Sometimes certificates just say oh you became a dolphin and there is no clarity as to what that means.”

Having developed many swim programs from scratch, Ms Cox maintained a blanket approach would not do when developing a curriculum, and that a foundation that prioritises overall structure for skills akin to the UK approach would be ideal.

“In The UK for instance, we have all strokes and all elements. We work on body position, leg kick, arms, breathing and timing. Having that as the basis allows for a massive amount of flexibility when delivering a program,” she said.

“Body position could be learning to get them to float on their front, it could be learning to rocket ship - rocket off the side with arm in front. A whole range of activities that can be tailored to children at your level.”

In regards to the onus being on parents to equip their children with safe swim skills, Ms Cox said that parental involvement would make any system better.

“Especially with little children, it allows you to not waste as much time,” Ms Cox said.

More instructors needed

Rachael Hughes, General Manager at Marlin Coast Swimming Fitness, said their newly acquired centre in Dimbulah was currently on the hunt for a learn-to-swim instructor.

“We took over the centre in Dimbulah in December and we don’t have a swim instructor there yet,” Ms Hughes said.

Rachael Hughes, General Manager of MCSF (Marlin Coast Swimming and Fitness), said there was a shortage of learn-to-swim instructors in small communities. Picture: Supplied

“There is a national shortage of learn to swim teachers at the moment. It is very hard to get teachers when you have small communities.”

Along with her team, Ms Hughes is in charge of aquatic facilities in several locations including Atherton, Babinda, Smithfield and Gordonvale with facilities in Dimbulah, Kuranda and Mareeba only recently coming under their management.

She said schools were doing the best they can to deliver swim programs, while also juggling their curriculum requirements.

“The schools do have a responsibility, their teachers do teach,” she said.

“A school program can teach safety but learning to swim can’t happen in just an eight week block, you can’t expect a child to retain the information.

“It is the children that don’t have access to a learn-to-swim program outside of what the school offers that are not really making a lot of improvement.”

Ms Hughes said that subsidised swimming lessons direct to parents or through swim schools would be beneficial in assisting less fortunate families who may not be able to afford the $600 - $1000 yearly cost of attending swim lessons.

“We have families from remote areas on the Tablelands who travel 45min each way to ensure their children have access to swimming lessons,” Ms Hughes said.

“These families also have further costs such as increased fuel to take into consideration. Funding and more access to swim teacher training through AUSTSWIM and ASCTA would also be beneficial, particularly in remote areas where we have a lack of qualified swimming teachers.”

The Department of Education was contacted for comment and stated that there was not a one-size fits all approach to water safety and swimming education and that principals, in conjunction with their school communities, provide a water safety and swimming education program in the way that works best for their students and school context.

According to the spokesman, one school in the Cairns region applied for the 2023 water safety and swimming education grant.

Originally published as State swim program audit welcomed by Far North instructors