General News
22 August, 2025
More kids to learn to swim
LANE hire fees for swimming lessons for the Douglas Cluster of Schools, as well as St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School, have been waived by Douglas Shire Council.
Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the decision backed school-based swimming programs and promoted water safety.
“Supporting our local schools with free access to swimming lanes is a simple but meaningful way to invest in our kids’ health, safety and confidence in the water,” she said.
The fees were waived at the last council meeting on July 29.
“It’s important that children who live in the tropics are very proficient in water,” Cr Damian Meadows told the meeting.
Deputy mayor Cr Roy Zammataro said with an increase in drowning deaths, this measure was worth it even if it could save just one life.
“Some kids’ families can’t afford (swimming lessons) and this is a great idea to learn to swim,” he said.
“Average drownings have gone up a lot in the last 10 years.”
Cr Michael Rees said “I teach kids to swim and it’s amazing that some kids can’t swim”.
“Most of the drownings are in rivers and this is really an important step,” he said.
A council report said the cluster of schools had made the request.
“For swimming lessons at Mossman pool, schools are currently charged an entry fee per student of $4, and lane hire fees at the not-for-profit rate of $12 per hour, per lane,” it said.
“According to the cluster, it costs approximately $80 per student to facilitate the swimming curriculum, which may include bus fares, additional teacher supervision, a qualified instructor, the purchase of resources such as kick boards and pool fees.
“For families struggling with cost-of-living pressures and families with multiple children participating, it is becoming a cost that is out of reach for many.
“The Queensland Government requires state schools to provide a water safety and swimming education program in prep to year 6 as part of the Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Framework.
“Subsidies from the Department of Education are minimal and only available to eligible students, generally in the prep to year 1 age group.
“The National Drowning Report 2024 showed that there was a 16 per cent increase in drowning deaths in 2023/24.
“The report states ‘there is a fear that swimming skills are going backwards and are perhaps lowest since large scale investments in school-based activities in the 1960s-70s. Many families lack the means or access to private lessons, and schools are often unable to provide the safety net they once did’.
“Additionally, the report highlights that coastal locations represented 46 per cent of drowning deaths.
“Ensuring that learn to swim programs remain affordable and accessible, particularly for school aged children, will reduce the overall risk of drowning in the community.”
Councillors unanimously backed the decision but the cost to ratepayers was not revealed.
Read More: Mossman
