Royal Life Saving Australia National Swimming and Water Safety Framework Milestones

Royal Life Saving Society – Australia has published the new National Swimming and Water Safety Framework, developed in partnership with industry organisations, which sets out three key swimming benchmarks for children at the age of 6, 12 and 17 years. Is your child on target to reach these milestones?
• Every Australian at the age of 6 years should be able to swim continuously for at least 5 metres, submerge and move through an obstacle, and identify people and actions to help in an aquatic emergency;
• Every Australian at the age of 12 years should be able to at least tread water for 2 minutes and swim continuously for 50 metres, rescue a person using a non-swimming rescue technique with non-rigid aids, and perform a survival sequence wearing clothing;
• 50% of all Australians at the age of 17 years should be able to tread water for 5 minutes, swim continuously for 400 metres, rescue an unconscious person in deep water, and perform a survival sequence wearing heavy clothing.

It is vital more than ever for everyone to realise the essential role that swimming plays on the nation’s long-term health and wellbeing, and drowning prevention.

The full framework can be accessed HERE