Why babies should be having swimming lessons from just six months

A new report has revealed an “alarming” slide in swimming skills, with parents saying they’re too busy to take their kids to lessons.

Swim stars Georgie Sarton, Giaan Rooney, Sianna McColl and Leo McColl show how it's done.

More than half of Aussie parents doubt their child could swim to safety in a water emergency, a national report by Swim Australia has found.

And 43 per cent of kids are not even enrolled in swimming lessons - an alarming statistic for a nation that once had a proud tradition of learning to swim at a young age.

Swim Australia chief executive Brendon Ward said the results painted a “grim picture’’ for Australians’ water safety.

“We’re still experiencing an alarming trend where swimming lessons are low on parents’ list of priorities.

About one in six parents said they did not have time to take their child to lessons.

“Swimming lessons should be a non-negotiable and a priority before other sporting or physical activities,’’ Mr Ward said.

“Swimming lessons are the one physical activity that could help a child save their own life.”

The SWIMSAFER Report found that 56 per cent of parents admitted that their children had poor water safety skills.

Olympian and SWIMSAFER Week Ambassador Giaan Rooney said the report showed that some parents believed their child was either too young or too old for lessons.

“(It) shows there is a grave misconception about when kids should start and stop swimming lessons.

Swimming legend Giaan Rooney wants all kids to learn how to swim.

“Kids can start from the age of six months, and this will give them the best chance of developing strong water safety skills for life,” she said.

Rooney said swimming lessons were not something a child did for a year.

“It takes them time and regular practice to hone their water safety skills and they can and should participate in swimming lessons right up to the age of 12.”

Melbourne swim instructor Joanne Love said learning to swim was once part of the nation’s DNA but it had been lost.

“There are so many options out there for families that swimming slips down the priority list,’’ Ms Love said.

Swimming instructors are alarmed at the dipping child lesson rates. Picture: Hamish Blair

“And they need to be able to swim really well. Some parents get the basics done and that’s great but it’s important to also to be able to cope if you’re in the ocean in a life-and-death situation.

“The fact that 43 per cent of kids are not learning to swim is a real concern.

“I’m actually very sad about the whole thing.’’

Ms Love said people from all cultures needed to be reminded of the vital life skill.

More swim instructors have been recruited in recent months again, after many casual staff left for other work when pandemic lockdowns closed pools.

The Swim Jobs Victoria program has signed up more than 100 new teachers in the past six month.