Teens target for vital swim lessons

ADVERTORIAL

Belgravia Leisure is urging families to enrol teens in a learn-to-swim program after recent data from the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia showed high school students’ lifesaving skills were not up to standard.

According to the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) of Australia, teachers estimate 84 per cent of 15-16- year-olds are unable to swim 400m and tread water for five minutes, a basic lifesaving requirement and the benchmark for 17-year-olds.

Belgravia's GOswim Teen Program offers a tailored learn-to-swim program for students aged 13-17 years.

The course, which meets national benchmarks for RLSSA, includes water safety and survival skills to reduce incidents in open water environments when teens are with their peers and possibly without supervision.

There are presently almost 800 teenagers across Australia involved in Belgravia's GOswim Teen Program.

“At our Moreton Bay venues, we recognise that teens may feel uncomfortable learning alongside younger children. So, we offer lessons in the shallow end of our 25m pool with peers of a similar age,” Belgravia Leisure Aquatics Specialist Cheryl McLennan says.

“This fosters a supportive and confidence-building environment, ensuring student progress at their own pace.”

RLSS Australia CEO Dr Justin Scarr says he is shocked at the worrying data reflecting the lack of teenagers’ swimming skills.

“Our report on declining children’s swimming skills is a wake-up call. I was shocked to learn that 39 per cent of Year 10 students can’t reach the primary school benchmark – swim 50m and float for two minutes,” he says.

“Poor swimming skills put them at significant risk of missing out on the many benefits that being able to swim affords, making them highly vulnerable to drowning as young adults.

“It’s alarming to see so many children missing out. We risk creating a generation with extremely poor swimming skills.

Cheryl says it is important to engage teens in innovative ways.

“Traditional swimming programs have focused on younger children, but with rising drowning rates among teens and young adults, we need to rethink our approach,” she says.

“With drowning statistics on the rise, now is the time to prioritise swimming education for teens. The GOswim Teen Program is more than just a lesson—it’s a lifesaving opportunity.”

The GOswim Teen Program is on offer across Belgravia Leisure managed venues in Moreton Bay.

Phone (07) 5294 7813 to book.