News & Events / New & Improved Swim School Framework

What is Swim and Survive?
Swim and Survive is a comprehensive swimming and water safety initiative of Royal Life Saving that seeks to increase the swimming and water safety skills of all Australian children in order to prevent drowning and increase participation in safe aquatic activity.

Learn to swim, swimming lessons and infant aquatics are all terms commonly used across the aquatic industry for programs that seek to build swimming skills. Swim and Survive is all of these, but most importantly it ensures that the essential components of personal survival and water safety are provided, in addition to a process of developing strong and effective swimming technique.
Swim and Survive is delivered in pools, schools and other aquatic locations across the country by qualified swimming and water safety instructors.

Why Swim and Survive?

• 1 in 5 of all drowning deaths are children aged under 18 years of age
• 50 children drowned last year
• 60% of children aged 0-4 drowned in backyard pools
• 55% of children aged 5-14 drowned in rivers
• Males are 3 times more likely to drown than females
• Drowning rate dramatically increase as teenagers become young adults.

Skills and knowledge learnt in the Swim and Survive program provides a level of protection and aims to provide children with solid foundation skills in swimming, survival and basic rescue skills.

Wonder Courage and Active

Wonder, Courage and Active have been chosen as the Swim and Survive program titles to reflect the hopes and aspirations of children and families as they embark on a lifetime of fun and safety in the water.
Each program is structured into skill strands that ensure a balanced, comprehensive instructional approach to a child's aquatic education.

Wonder - A water familiarisation program for parents and their children aged 6 to 36 months.
Courage - A program that builds water confidence for preschool aged children between the ages of 3-5 years.
Active - A swimming and water safety program for school aged children between the ages of 5-14 years