Swimming lessons Qld: Education Minister’s admission as parents raise major cost concerns

Exasperated parents have attacked the cost of Queensland’s “compulsory” school swimming program, as the Education Minister admits a “one size fits all approach” will not work.

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A “one size fits all approach” to Queensland’s school swimming program will not work, and children must learn water safety long before they start school, state Education Minister Grace Grace says.

Following calls for mandatory swimming lessons for students to address the alarming rate of drownings in the state, Ms Grace said on Tuesday that she would “like to reassure families that swimming lessons are already compulsory in all Queensland state primary schools”.

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“Our statewide Water Safety and Swimming Education Program was introduced as a result of the Ministerial Water Safety Roundtable the Palaszczuk government established back in 2018, with funding of nearly $4m a year,” she said.

Education Minister Grace Grace. Picture: Liam Kidston

But Queensland parents have claimed the rollout of the public school swimming program is confusing and inconsistent, with some students only getting lessons in certain year levels – while other parents are being asked to fork out extra cash for lessons.

Ms Grace said: “There is not a one size fits all approach when it comes to our schools, especially in a state as diverse and decentralised as Queensland.

“Principals, in conjunction with their school communities will implement swimming lessons and a water safety program in the way that works best for their students, ensuring that students meet the competencies laid out in the National Swimming and Water Safety Framework,” she said.

“Schools that don’t have a pool on site or within 1km automatically receive Learn to Swim funding to cover transport and pool admission costs, and more funds are available for those facing additional barriers.

“I’d encourage parents and carers who think these lessons should be delivered differently to talk to their local school in the first instance, and of course if there are examples of schools not delivering what they’re required to, we want to fix that.

“There is support and additional funding available, and I’d urge schools to contact the department.”

Azayah Palmer, 9, Alijah Palmer, 8, and Jayden Palmer, 10, pictured at the Wynnum wading pool, Brisbane. (Image/Josh Woning)

While all Queensland state schools are required to offer a water safety and swimming program in prep to year 6 under the government policy, a Department of Education fact sheet states: “Student participation in these programs is not compulsory. Parents can choose for their children not to participate.”

Steve Titmus, the father of champion Olympic swimmer Ariarne, said in an ideal world children would learn to swim before starting primary school.

However, he said it posed a problem when not all parents could afford private swimming lessons.

“Learning to swim is about saving lives,” Mr Titmus said. “You only have to go to a beach, a pool and there are children who can’t swim at all, or ones who won’t put their heads under the water. Then there are those who are very good swimmers, but the skill gap is enormous.”

Mr Titmus likened swimming to “riding a bike”, in that the basic skills set children up for life.

Ms Grace said she wanted to see all Queensland students participating in lessons – “that’s why we’ve made it compulsory”.

“Students need a very good reason to not take part,” she said.

“However, parental consent is required for excursions, including to swimming pools.

“If a parent or carer tells a school they do not want their child to go into a swimming pool under any circumstances, clearly a teacher is not going to put a child in the water against their wishes.

“Schools have an important role to play but teaching children to swim is not the sole responsibility of schools.

“Children should be learning how to be safe around water … long before they start school, and it needs to continue beyond the school gates.”

A number of parents commented on Ms Grace’s Tuesday post, raising concerns about how the policy was being implemented, with some citing costs and a lack of availability for lessons.

On Tuesday, parents raised concerns on Ms Grace’s Facebook page on how the government policy was implemented, with some citing costs and lack of availability for lessons. One posted “we had to choose which two year levels could go this year as there is not enough money to send our Prep to Year 3s.

“Not enough to actually learn to swim, when some kids are petrified of even getting in the water …”

Another said “a lot of families decide against it because of the costs”; another said “parents opt to take their children out of these lessons, believing they are not important”.

In response to another comment about the costs of swimming lessons, Ms Grace’s team said “it shouldn’t be the case that state schools are charging for swimming lessons. Principals in consultation with their school communities decide the best way to implement the program.”

Other parents said P & Cs of schools without pools had to raise thousands of dollars to cover associated costs of swimming lessons, such as transport and pool entry fees.

One mum posted “I have a child that goes to a state school and yes they do offer it, but if you can’t afford to pay the $60-plus your child can’t go. So it’s great to say it’s compulsory but if you don’t have the money the child misses out.”

A Queensland teacher – who asked to remain anonymous – said in her experience only prep to year 3 had been offered the lessons, and only for 45-minute lessons, each day for a week. She said year 3-6 had a swimming carnival during the year despite the fact three of those grades were not provided with any lessons.

“The amount of students even in year 4 who are not confident in a 25 metre pool is alarming,” she said.

Originally published as Swimming lessons Qld: Education Minister’s admission as parents raise major cost concerns