30/10/2025
Drowning deaths in people aged 15 to 20 have increased by 34 per cent in the last five years, new research by Royal Life Saving Australia (RLSA) shows.
The research also found 60 per cent of kids start lessons before 3 years old, but most have dropped out by the age of 7.
The organisation is now urging parents to enrol their children in a second round of swimming lessons before high school.
"Kids are starting earlier, but the shocking bit is just how early they're dropping out," Peter Leaversuch, CEO of RLSA WA, told Nadia Mitsopoulos on ABC Radio Perth.
Mr Leaversuch is believes a lack of interest in formal lessons as well as the cost of sport has combined to result in these concerning statistics.
"That retention strategy, we've got to get better at, we've got to get better options for kids that are really fun, that it's not just seen as a chore."
Another barrier to swimming lessons is the continuing shortage of swimming instructors across the state. Mr Leaversuch suggests joining an aquatic club if a swim school is unavailable.
"There's immense power in joining a club, whether it's a swimming club, a life-saving club, a sailing club, because there are ways you can continue to enjoy the water, continue to reinforce the skills you may have learnt."
"They have a great capacity to wrap their arms around communities and teach skills."
With the research also revealing that almost half of 15-year-olds can't swim 50m — the length of an Olympic pool — Mr Leaversuch wants parents to talk to their teenagers about what would happen if they had an accident near water.
"'Think about if you fell from a boat or slipped off rocks, could you look after yourselves? Would you know what to do if you're in a current?' And if the answer's no, then we're just encouraging them to revisit how important developing these skills are."