Qld school swimming lessons: Nipper struggles trigger backing for major overhaul

Surf Life Saving Queensland has expressed concern and called for a school swimming lessons overhaul, as an increasing number of nippers are floundering in the water, unable to complete basic swim tests.

An increasing number of nippers are floundering in the water, unable to complete basic swim tests.

Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) has backed the campaign for better learn-to-swim programs in schools, saying more and more children are coming into the movement with inadequate swimming skills.

Parents and safe swimming advocates have raised multiple issues with the Queensland Government’s current learn-to-swim program, including inadequate funding which has led to families being forced to pay for lessons as the cost of living soars.

SLSQ has renewed calls it made as far back as 2016 when then-president George Hill wrote to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pleading for the state government to “follow Victoria’s lead and mandate a regulated and certified swimming program as part of the state’s ongoing school curriculum”.

Currumbin Vikings nippers Eden Holmes, Lily Hassall, Milla Clark, Smith Masson, Hunter Gaffney, Navah Holmes and Asha Clark pictured on Kingscliff Beach. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

“We firmly believe that equipping all students, regardless of location, with vital swimming skills and awareness will not only save lives, but also significantly reduce the number of major incidents on Queensland beaches and in other locations,” Mr Hill wrote at the time.

The Saturday Courier-Mail revealed Queensland spends less than a quarter of the $72 million the Victorian Government has allocated over the next four years to its swimming program, which aims to ensure children develop lifelong water safety skills by Year 6.

Queensland is also one of the only states not to subsidise five-day or 10-day learn to swim programs in school holidays.

Former ironman Zane Holmes says the closure of pools on the southern Glitter Strip had had a major impact on children’s swimming. Pic by Luke Marsden.

An SLSQ spokeswoman said the number of junior lifesavers unable to swim properly was a significant concern.

“SLSQ has strict requirements and processes for assessing the capabilities of our nippers,” she said.

“Before they are allowed to participate in water activities at the beach, they are required to complete an assessment in the pool. The assessment requirements vary according to their age group, however it includes a swim of a specified distance and a float.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more kids unable to complete these requirements. This in-turn increases our water safety requirements on the beach and therefore further stretches our resources.

“An increase in the number of children participating in learn to swim activities would have flow-on benefits for surf life saving. Not only would swimming lessons for Queensland children improve the capabilities of our nippers, it would also help to improve the safety of children more generally when they are visiting the beach or around waterways.”

Zane Holmes, a former champion ironman who is now nipper coach with the Gold Coast’s Currumbin Vikings Surf Club, said the closure of pools on the southern Glitter Strip had had a major impact on children’s swimming.

The council-owned Palm Beach Aquatic Centre has closed for a two-year redevelopment while pools on the Tweed Coast have also shut.

Mr Holmes said his 10-year-old twin daughters, Eden and Navah, were fortunate they went to Currumbin State School which has its own swimming pool, and swam twice a week.

“At Currumbin Nippers, we always encourage the parents to make sure their kids are swimming at least two or three times a week in a proper swim squad so they’re proficient and confident in the water,” he said.

“The closure of the Palm Beach pool has made that difficult because many families now have to travel to Miami, which is a mission. It’s super-crowded and can take 45 minutes to get there in the traffic.

“It’s a struggle.”