CLP launches new plan for free swimming classes for primary students

A new plan has been unveiled to deliver free swimming lessons for Territory primary students. Read what is.

Territory primary school students will have access to free swimming lessons if the opposition CLP is elected to government.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro announced on Monday swimming and water safety education would be embedded in the Territory curriculum as a compulsory component of Health and Physical Education.

The CLP will provide $3m a year to subsidise the program, which will apply to all students from years one to six.

Ms Finocchiaro said the CLP responded to a representation from an alliance of water-safety organisations including Royal Lifesaving NT, Surf Life Saving NT, Swimming NT, Triathlon NT and KidsafeNT, all of whom sought the reintroduction of mandatory swimming lessons after they were stopped 25 years ago.

“This is part of the CLP’s plan to help Territory families with the cost of living,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“Currently, less than half of NT primary schools provide swimming lessons, which means parents are left to pick up the bill with private swim lessons. With household bills on the rise, more and more families just can’t afford it.

The CLP announced their election pledge to provide kids with free swimming lessons.

“No child should miss out on learning these lifesaving skills. The CLP introduced the $200 learn to swim voucher in 2014 to prevent drownings in children under five. Now we will ensure every Territory child under 12 learns how to swim.”

Shadow Education Minister Jo Hersey said it was alarming only 5 per cent of Territory year six students met national swimming and water safety benchmarks.

“Water is a huge part of lifestyle with our amazing weather, waterfalls, boating and fishing yet we are the only jurisdictions in Australia where swimming lessons are not compulsory,” Ms Hersey said.

“Under the CLP, your child will learn how to swim just like they learn how to read and write.”

Chief Minister Eva Lawler questioned whether $3m would be enough to cover swimming lessons for every primary age Territory student.

She said the average individual cost per lesson of $200 “would not go very far” in remote communities and said the CLP announcement lacked detail.

“We already have a learn to swim program in the Northern Territory so we have I think about 5000 families that have taken up the offer of the Learn to Swim program,” Ms Lawler said.