Did you know 48% of Aussie kids aren’t meeting the national benchmark for swimming by the sixth grade?
The National Swimming and Water Safety Framework states that, by age 12, every Australian should be able to perform a range of skills, including:
- Swim continuously for 50 metres
- Tread water for two minutes
- Swim underwater to recover an object
However, research by Royal Life Saving Australia shows that almost half of Aussie kids are falling short, with refugee, migrant, regional and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities disproportionately affected. Research also shows that the risk of drowning increases by as much as ten times between the ages of 10 and 20.
Swimming is both a life skill and a national pastime. By developing the necessary skills, Aussie kids can improve their safety in the water and reduce their risk of drowning. But it also helps them develop confidence and allows them to enjoy all the social and health benefits that swimming has to offer.
Through Pool 4 Purpose, the Swimming Australia Foundation is raising funds to deliver much-needed programs to communities across Australia to help kids learn the skills they need to be safe and confident in the water. Royal Life Saving Australia advocates for increased funding for learn-to-swim programs and greater access to programs for at-risk communities.
By supporting Pool 4 Purpose, your donation will help us reduce the number of kids that aren’t reaching the national benchmark and give Aussie kids the skills and confidence to survive and thrive in the water.
Donate today
Through our partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation we are able to offer tax deductibility to your donations.
