ACT Swimming & Water Safety Program - Increasing Access to Swimming and Water Safety Education

The ACT Swimming & Water Safety Program continues to provide vital swimming and water safety education to year 2 school-aged children across the ACT. Delivered by Royal Life Saving ACT in partnership with the ACT Education Directorate, the program incorporates the Swim and Survive program to support students to develop the essential skills, knowledge and confidence required to safely participate in aquatic environments.

In 2025, the program reached 2,100 students across 46 schools, supporting inclusive participation for students from diverse backgrounds and abilities. This included 158 students with English as a Second Language, 38 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, and 52 students with disability, ensuring the program reached students who may experience additional barriers to accessing swimming and water safety education.

ACT Swimming & Water Safety Program

Swimming & Water Safety Program ACT

Swimming & Water Safety Program in ACT

Through Swim and Survive swimming lessons and water safety activities, students developed skills aligned with the National Swimming and Water Safety Framework benchmarks, including water confidence, survival skills, safe decision-making and an understanding of their personal aquatic capabilities.

The continued success of the ACT Swimming & Water Safety Program highlights the importance of collaboration between Royal Life Saving ACT, the ACT Education Directorate and participating schools. By combining the Swim and Survive program with inclusive delivery approaches, the initiative continues to improve access to quality swimming and water safety education, helping students build safer behaviours around water and develop skills that support lifelong participation in aquatic activities.