$1.2 million boost to swimming survival skills for children

More Queensland children will learn vital water safety skills under an enhanced program launched jointly today by Emergency Services Minister Pat Purcell and the Royal Life Saving Society of Queensland.

The Swim and Survive program – which is run by the Royal Life Saving Society of Queensland – will receive $300,000 a year from the Department of Emergency Services over a four year period. During the recent election campaign, the Government committed to providing this funding as part of its election policy Supporting Marine Volunteers: Saving Lives.

In the 2005-06 financial year, 54 people drowned in Queensland. Of these, 15 were aged 6 and under. Nationally in 2005-06, 265 people of all ages drowned.

Mr Purcell said that the funding would allow the program to be offered in a greater number of schools across the State so that Queensland children – particularly those in rural and remote areas – would have access to vital water safety training.

“Expanding the Swim and Survive program – also known as the Love 2 Swim Program – will mean that children have the chance to learn important survival skills that will help prevent drownings and water-related injuries,” he said.

“Every year, far too many people lose their lives in dams, rivers, creeks and backyard swimming pools as a result of drowning.

“Love 2 Swim aims to dramatically reduce these deaths by ensuring that children are armed with the knowledge and skills they need to be safe while swimming.”

Almost 10 million Australians have participated in the Swim and Survive program since its beginning in 1982.

Since that time there has been a 75 per cent reduction in drowning among children between the ages of five and 14 years.

“The Beattie Government is determined to further reduce this loss of life by boosting water safety education programs provided across the State by the Royal Life Saving Society of Queensland,” Mr Purcell said.

The enhancement of the Love 2 Swim program will enable additional qualified instructors to deliver the program in primary schools throughout Queensland.

Children who participate in the program are taught how to be safe when in, on and around the water, as well as skills in swimming, personal survival and basic rescue.

The funding boost will further strengthen the relationship the Department of Emergency Services has with the Royal Life Saving Society of Queensland, to which it already provides $50,918 a year recurrently.

Media contacts: Tim Shipstone 07 3247 8194, 0409 620 571;
Daniel Landon 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976.