Victoria’s push to ease serious swimming lesson crisis

The state government has announced plan to drastically boost the number of swimming instructors in the state after three horror years of drownings.

In 2020-2021, 61 people drowned in Victoria — the highest toll in two decades.

And it’s been revealed as many as one-in-four Australians are weak swimmers or cannot swim at all.

Director of Learn To Swim Victoria, Joanne Love, says swim schools don’t have enough teachers to meet demand, so primary school swimming lessons have been ditched for many children.

“The government is trying to make it compulsory but actually the swim schools don’t have enough instructors,” she told Ross and Russel.

Victorian Community Sport Minister Ros Spence will today announce new funding for VICSWIM, creating 150 new jobs for swim teachers.

Grants of up to $325 will be handed out for courses for new teachers, and other smaller grants will also be available for renewing qualifications and for specialist courses.

Press PLAY below to hear how the plan hopes to boost the number of swim teachers