Funding will continue for SwimStart program despite it not appearing in budget

A program that has helped more than 10,000 children learn to swim will continue to be funded despite it not appearing in the state budget.

A life-saving learn-to-swim subsidy will be funded, the government says, despite it not appearing in the state budget.

Funding for the SwimStart program, launched in 2023 ­following advocacy by The Courier-Mail, is due to expire on Monday and no future allocation was made by the government in Tuesday’s budget.

The program offered $150 vouchers for children aged 0-4 to help cover the cost of learning to swim.

A spokeswoman for Sports Minister Tim Mander said round two of the SwimStart scheme recently finished and round three would soon begin.

While the program was missing from the budget and no certainty over the amount of future funding, the spokeswoman said it will be funded for the next four years.

“The SwimStart vouchers will remain available under the Crisafulli government and round three will kick off in the near future,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the government had made the “greatest investment in grassroots sport in Queensland’s history” through its $200 Play On! vouchers and $250m Games On! funding for clubs.

SwimStart has helped some 12,000 children learn to swim.

Originally published as Funding will continue for SwimStart program despite it not appearing in budget