NEWS UPDATE
Making Waves in Education: Free Swimming & Water Safety Lessons for NT Primary Students
As of Term 1, 2025, the Northern Territory’s landmark $3 million investment in free swimming and water safety education is making a real impact in classrooms and communities across the region. Now in its second term of delivery, the program—announced and launched earlier this year—is equipping thousands of students in Years 1 to 6 with critical life-saving skills, regardless of their background or location.
This initiative is more than just a policy promise—it’s a practical, on-the-ground change that’s already shifting the tide on water safety education across the Territory.
A Response to Urgent Need
Prior to the program’s launch, fewer than 5% of NT Year 6 students met national water safety benchmarks. In a place where waterways, wetlands and coastal environments are part of everyday life, the lack of swimming proficiency posed a serious risk—particularly in remote and regional communities.
The NT Government’s response has been both bold and inclusive: make swimming education free, embed it into the school curriculum, and remove every financial and logistical barrier possible.
How It Works
By Term 2, schools across the Territory are well into their implementation plans:
Urban schools are working with accredited swim providers to deliver weekly lessons at local pools.
Remote schools with pool access are holding regular or intensive swimming sessions.
Remote schools without pool access are using creative, place-based alternatives—such as dryland safety education and intensive excursions—to ensure students still build foundational water safety awareness.
Professionally Delivered, Nationally Aligned
All swimming and water safety instruction is delivered by qualified instructors holding the SISSS00132 – Swimming and Water Safety Teacher accreditation. The program is aligned with the Australian Curriculum and designed to ensure all students reach Royal Life Saving Australia Swim and Survive Level 7 competencies by the end of Year 6.
Inclusive, Adaptable, and Equitable
Inclusivity is a cornerstone of the program. Adjustments are being made across the Territory to support students with disabilities, and schools are working with families to accommodate individual needs. Parents retain the choice to opt out, but participation to date has been strong and growing.
Broader Impacts
Now well underway, the program is already being recognised for its broader impact—on community safety, education equity, and cost of living. Embedding swimming education as a core entitlement rather than a luxury is levelling the playing field for Territory children.
The Northern Territory’s leadership in this space offers a compelling model for other states to consider. By prioritising access, safety, and inclusion, this program is delivering real outcomes that go far beyond the pool.
🔗 More information available via the NT Department of Education:
https://education.nt.gov.au/parents-and-carers/swimming-and-water-safety-education-in-northern-territory-schools
#Education #WaterSafety #SwimmingForAll #NTGov #EquityInEducation #InclusiveEducation #ChildSafety #Lifeskills #PublicPolicy #AustraliaEducation