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Whether as a responsible member of the community or for a lifesaving career Royal Life Saving has you covered with training opportunities both online and face to face.
LIVES NOT NUMBERS
Every year, Royal Life Saving produces the National Drowning Report, examining the factors that contribute to drowning deaths in Australia by examining who, where, when and how people have drowned in Australian waterways. We are ever mindful that these stories in this report are of real people whose lives have been lost or impacted by drowning. We seek to advocate and collaborate to reduce the impact of drowning on the community.
From Primary to High School: A Generational Decline in Swimming Skills Puts Lives at Risk
New Royal Life Saving research highlights further declines in children’s swimming skills, with half of Year 6 students falling below the National Swimming and Water Safety Benchmark. This alarming trend continues into high school, putting thousands at increased risk of drowning in early adulthood.
Key Findings:
- Primary-aged students are struggling to meet benchmarks. Teachers estimate that 48% of Year 6 students cannot swim 50 metres and tread water for two minutes. Parents report similar concerns, with 46% of 11-12-year-olds falling short of this standard.
- Swimming skills don’t improve in high school. Teachers estimate that 39% of Year 10 students still cannot meet the Year 6 benchmark
- Lifesaving skills of high school students are dangerously weak. Teachers estimate a staggering 84% of 15-16-year-olds are unable to swim 400 metres and tread water for five minutes, a basic lifesaving requirement and the benchmark for 17-year-olds.
National Water Safety Summit 2025
The National Water Safety Summit 2025 will bring together people from across all areas of the water safety sector to reflect on progress and explore opportunities to strengthen alignment to the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 (AWSS 2030). Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia are proudly presenting this event on behalf of the Australian Water Safety Council.
Prepare for the unexpected.
Kids will be kids. And we love them all. Cute, funny, quiet, wild, angelic, studious, all of them with their own unique personalities, all of them unpredictable. One day the side kick and the curious one the next, with everything in between. Which is why we love them even more!
But they have one thing in common: Kids can’t help themselves around water, you need to. Keep Watch.
OUR MAJOR PARTNER
The Australian Government provides significant support and funding for Royal Life Saving's drowning prevention initiatives and activities, including swimming and water safety education programs, community awareness campaigns and industry support.
