More Queensland children to get in the water with SwimStart program doubling

Mike Fox has been a swimming teacher for almost 25 years. He’s seen good swimmers and school students frightened to get into the water.

Now the Lawnton Aquatic Centre manager, Fox feels a bit of relief that more children will have access to the GOswim water safety and swim lesson program thanks to a $5 million boost to a SwimStart program.

More children will now have access to swimming classes through the program.Credit: Getty Images

The program aims to improve water safety for children up to the age of four while helping to ease cost of living expenses for eligible families, saving $150 per voucher per child to access swimming lessons.

“It’s a great start. It won’t get every child swimming safely but if we can get some and get them safe around the water, it’s going to be a great thing for the community,” Fox said.

“We live on an island, we’re surrounded by water and we need to learn to swim and that’s gone by the wayside with some families.

“Unfortunately, we have a lot of kids that are coming into our pools from schools that are frightened of water.

“I just don’t think parents are prioritising swimming lessons the way they used to. We live in some pretty tough times but this is so important for children.”

Fox said it was imperative for eligible families to take up this offer.

“We do receive some vouchers but not as many as we would hope for,” he said.

“It’s terrific for the families.”

Fox said he had noticed a decline in swimming ability from children and youths over the years.

“When you look at school swimming and see the ages coming through and the ability of those swimmers, it’s not what it should be and it certainly wasn’t what it used to be,” he said.

“Hopefully these extra vouchers can get more children to start their swimming journeys. It’s important and such a great thing to do.”

Over the weekend, Deputy Premier and Treasurer Cameron Dick said doubling the funding for the SwimStart program up to June 2025 would help with the barrier Queensland families were experiencing with the high living costs.

“By extending SwimStart, the Miles government is ensuring Queensland children won’t miss out on important swimming lessons as a result of national cost of living pressures,” she said.

Olympic Gold Medallist Brooke Hanson said every child should have a chance to learn to swim.

“As a mum, it was incredible to see my kids learning when they were six months old, being able to get to the side of the pool,” she said.

“They weren’t able to crawl at that stage, but they were learning to swim, which is such a valuable skill they will take through life.

“The SwimStart program provides many families with that same opportunity and it’s fantastic to see even more funding allocated to help Queensland kids in the water.”

For more information, visit the Queensland government website.