We’ve Delivered 110,000 Swimming Lessons to More Than 11,000 People - Now We Need Funding to Keep Going

Project Elevate helped more than 11,000 NSW residents develop essential swimming and water safety skills, but funding has ended despite continued high drowning rates across the state.

Royal Life Saving NSW is urging the NSW Government to reinstate and expand funding for swimming and water safety education for vulnerable communities, following the release of an independent evaluation highlighting the significant impact of Project Elevate.

The program, funded through the NSW Government's Learn to Swim for At-Risk Communities initiative, concluded on 30 June 2026 after delivering more than 110,000 swimming and water safety lessons to 11,392 children and adults across the state.

The funding cessation comes at a critical time for drowning prevention, with NSW recording 129 drowning deaths in 2024-25 and a further 109 deaths in 2025–26, amid some of the highest national drowning figures in 25 years.

Royal Life Saving NSW General Manager, Drowning Prevention and Education, Craig Roberts, said the program had demonstrated the importance of removing barriers to swimming education.

"More than 11,000 people have gained vital swimming and water safety skills through this program, many of whom would otherwise have been unable to access lessons because of cost, location or other barriers.

Yet at a time when drowning rates remain alarmingly high, funding for a program that has delivered such positive outcomes has ended.

We are calling on the NSW Government to renew and expand this investment so that more children and adults can develop the skills they need to be safer in and around water."

More Than 11,000 People Supported Across NSW

Project Elevate was designed to improve access to swimming and water safety education for communities facing financial, geographical, cultural and other barriers to participation.

Through free, targeted programs delivered across NSW, Project Elevate supported:

- 4,194 children through SwimVAC holiday swimming programs.

- 1,846 primary school students through swimming and water safety education.

- 2,617 high school students through targeted swimming programs.

- 2,735 culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) adults through accessible learn-to-swim opportunities.

The independent evaluation found that most participants improved their swimming ability, while feedback from participants and families demonstrated high levels of satisfaction with the programs.

Beyond developing practical swimming and water safety skills, Project Elevate helped participants build confidence, become more familiar with aquatic environments and access opportunities that may otherwise have been out of reach.

Significant Social and Economic Benefits

The evaluation also highlighted the substantial long-term value of investing in preventative swimming and water safety education.

An economic assessment estimated that the NSW Government's $2.9 million investment could deliver approximately $6.4 million in long-term economic benefits through reduced drowning risk.

When additional benefits associated with health, employment and community participation were included, the estimated economic value increased to approximately $7.8 million.

Project Elevate also contributed to the development of NSW's aquatic workforce, supporting 50 new swimming teachers and a further 250 employment outcomes.

These outcomes helped strengthen local workforce capacity and support the ongoing delivery of swimming education, particularly in communities where access to qualified instructors can be limited.

Swimming Competency Gaps Highlight Need for Continued Investment

While the evaluation demonstrated improvements in swimming skills and water safety knowledge, it also identified concerning gaps in swimming competency among participants.

At the conclusion of the program:

- 95% of high school participants had not achieved the swimming competency benchmark expected of a 12-year-old.

- 63% of adult participants had not achieved the swimming competency benchmark expected of a six-year-old.

Report lead author Dr Amy Peden, from UNSW Sydney's School of Population Health, said the findings reinforced the need for ongoing swimming education.

"While the improvements achieved through Project Elevate are encouraging, the findings show that many participants still require additional swimming education to reach nationally recognised benchmarks.

This reinforces the importance of sustained, accessible swimming education, particularly for communities experiencing greater barriers to participation and increased drowning risk."

The results demonstrate that while short-term programs can provide a valuable introduction to swimming and water safety, continued lessons and opportunities to practise are essential for participants to develop and maintain the skills needed to be safer around water.

Established Partnerships Provide a Foundation for Future Delivery

Over the course of Project Elevate, Royal Life Saving NSW developed strong relationships with schools, aquatic facilities, swimming teachers and community organisations to reach people who may otherwise miss out on formal swimming education.

Project Elevate Program Manager Renee Amidy said the program had made a meaningful difference to participants and their families.

"For many children and adults, this was their first opportunity to participate in structured swimming lessons. We saw participants develop skills, confidence and a greater understanding of water safety.

The partnerships, workforce and delivery networks are already established. With renewed funding, we could build on these achievements and reach even more communities."

The program's established delivery networks provide an opportunity to expand swimming and water safety education without having to rebuild partnerships and delivery arrangements from the ground up.

A Call to Renew and Expand Swimming Education Across NSW

Royal Life Saving NSW is calling for renewed NSW Government investment in a statewide swimming and water safety education program that builds on Project Elevate's demonstrated success.

The organisation is advocating for continued free access for vulnerable and at-risk communities, longer programs and follow-up lessons to help participants achieve swimming competency benchmarks, and greater investment in regional delivery capacity and aquatic workforce development.

With drowning rates remaining high and many Australians continuing to miss out on essential swimming education, Royal Life Saving NSW believes sustained investment is critical to reducing drowning risk and improving water safety outcomes.

"Swimming and water safety education should not depend on where someone lives or their ability to pay," Mr Roberts said.

"We have demonstrated the outcomes, the community demand and the potential economic value. Now is the time to build on that success, not walk away from it."

Royal Life Saving NSW remains committed to ensuring more people, regardless of their background, circumstances or location, have the opportunity to develop essential swimming and water safety skills.

The findings from Project Elevate provide a strong foundation for future investment and reinforce the importance of making swimming education accessible, inclusive and sustainable for communities across NSW.

Read our Final Evaluation Report to find out more.