Funding doubled to help more families dive in to swimming lessons

• Funding for the SwimStart program has more than doubled with new $5 million injection
• The vouchers, for eligible children aged 0 to 4 years, are aimed to help families experiencing cost-of-living pressures access swimming lessons

More Queensland families will have access to swimming lessons for their young children with a $5 million boost to the Miles Government’s SwimStart program.

SwimStart is designed to improve water safety for children up to the age of four, while helping to ease cost-of-living pressures for eligible families.

The program delivers vouchers valued up to $150 per child for swimming lessons.

There is a limit of 1 voucher per child per financial year.

SwimStart vouchers can be redeemed with close to 180 registered activity providers across the state.

The additional $5 million more than doubles funding to the SwimStart program up to June 2025.

Students in primary schools will continue to receive swimming lessons as part of the Water Safety and Swimming Education program.

Swimming squad training and coaching with registered not-for-profit providers continues to be available through the Queensland Government’s FairPlay Program for eligible 5 to 17-year-olds.

Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:

“Every parent in Queensland knows just how important it is for our kids to know what to do around water from an early age.

“My kids have grown up around pools and Queensland beaches and it was so important to Kim and I that they felt confident in the water.

“We know households are feeling cost-of-living pressures, which is why we’re doubling the amount of SwimStart vouchers available to families with young children.”

Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier and Treasurer Cameron Dick:

“National cost of living pressures are creating challenges for Queensland families, which is why in 2024 the government will freeze car registration and public transport fares, provide free kindy, deliver the largest energy rebates of any state and extend our successful SwimStart program.

“By extending SwimStart, the Miles Government is ensuring Queensland children won’t miss out on important swimming lessons as a result of national cost of living pressures.”

Quotes attributable to Sport Minister Michael Healy:

“Knowing how to swim is one of the most important skills we can teach our kids, particularly here in Queensland.

“Which is why the Miles Government introduced SwimStart to help eligible children up to 4 years old to access lessons.

“By injecting a further $5 million into the program, more eligible parents, carers and guardians will be able to get their kids in the water and learning to swim.

“While families are doing their best to manage cost-of-living pressures, this initiative helps to break down the financial barrier of swimming lessons for our youngest Queenslanders.

“This initiative will give kids the best start at learning water safety and how to swim, particularly with summer now in full swing.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Logan Linus Power MP:

“There’s no question, the Miles Government’s SwimStart program is a winner for families who are doing it tough.

“I know it’s been particularly popular in Logan, where almost 200 of our youngest kids are taking advantage of the program to learn how to swim.

“The health and wellbeing of Queenslanders is our top priority, and SwimStart delivers on this, while helping to ease cost-of-living pressures for families.”

Quotes attributable to Olympic Gold Medallist Brooke Hanson:

“Every child should have the chance to learn this important skill to improve safety in, on and around water.

“As a mum, it was incredible to see my kids learning when they were six months old, being able to get to the side of the pool.

“They weren’t able to crawl at that stage, but they were learning to swim, which is such a valuable skill they will take through life.

“The SwimStart program provides many families with that same opportunity and it’s fantastic to see even more funding allocated to help Queensland kids in the water.”

For more information on SwimStart visit www.qld.gov.au/swimstart

ENDS

Media contact – Bill Walker 0437 859 987