Sunshine Beach State School students, like other primary school-aged children across the Sunshine State, are reaping the lifesaving benefits of school swimming lessons.
In a region renowned for its stunning beaches, rivers, and swimming spots, combined with plenty of warm sunshine, instilling water safety skills at a young age is an important factor to keep our children safe.
The Sunshine Coast boasts a wealth of water-related recreational activities, but these come with inherent risks.
Queensland consistently reports one of the highest drowning rates in Australia, with a significant number of child fatalities.
Recent statistics have shown that drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for children aged one to 14 years, making it imperative to provide young learners with the skills they need to navigate Queensland’s aquatic playgrounds safely.
The Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report 2022 has revealed that drowning deaths in Queensland rose by 25 per cent in 2021.
Queensland’s spike in drowning deaths contributed to the highest drowning toll in Australia in 25 years, prompting water safety experts to issue an urgent plea to make water safety a focus in the 2022 and 2023 summer seasons.
Royal Life Saving Society – Australia chief executive officer, Justin Scarr, said he was deeply saddened by the tragic increase in drowning.
“Increased drowning deaths in school aged children is tragic and may be a sign of generational impacts of lessons missed due to Covid‐19,” he said.
“Swimming and water safety lessons are critical to child safety.”
Experts suggest that early exposure to swimming lessons helps children develop water confidence, build strong swimming skills, and understand the importance of safe behaviour in aquatic environments.
The swimming education program offered by qualified staff at Noosa Aquatic Centre doesn’t merely focus on swimming strokes but also encompasses crucial water survival skills.
Learning to swim is a fun and healthy life skill with many benefits.
It helps to keep children’s hearts and lungs healthy, improves strength, flexibility, balance and posture, and is a fun opportunity to make friends and grow in confidence. Co-ordination and motor skills are enhanced, and children who participate are also taught survival skills around the water.
For some of the learners it is the first time they have had actual swimming instruction, for others they are further developed and are strengthening their swimming strokes and kicking actions, all under the watchful eyes of the experienced swim staff of the Noosa Aquatic Centre.
School swimming lessons have also been celebrated for their potential to reduce the financial burden on parents.
Many families may not have access to private swimming lessons, but these programs ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has an opportunity to learn vital water safety skills.
In addition to their ongoing commitment to water safety education, the program is expanded in Year 6 to cover the essential topic of beach safety.
By equipping students with a well-rounded understanding of water safety, both in pools and at the beach, the school aims to cultivate a safety-conscious environment where children can confidently enjoy local waters.
This holistic approach not only empowers Sunshine Beach State School’s learners but also contributes to the overall safety and enjoyment of this coastal community.
