A teenage wake up call

It was me, I confess, the lingering, self conscious kid wanting to hide under a desk every summer when school’s compulsory ‘week-at-the-pool’ swimming lessons came around. That was some time ago, I was 9 years old and had recently emigrated from England. No swimming background, not at school, not socially, not recreationally. The weather didn’t lend itself to swimming, it wasn’t part of the culture and, besides, mine was a family scared of the water. 

Then, here I was in Australia where every child, at least in my eyes, was part dolphin. Not me. Loved sport but swimming was, well, a source of considerable embarrassment. At primary school, along with two other kids, I was banished to the shallowest corner of the pool and given the most basic lessons.

High school. Teenage years. My ability at sport was a source of some pride but when it came to swimming and the school swimming competitions, I still wished I could dematerialise and become a gum leaf on a nearby tree.

Then, aged 14, a friend – a better swimmer than me but still not particularly competent – started attending private swim lessons. I tagged along. In less time than what I imagined, my confused flailings discovered a fluidity and coordination I could not previously have envisaged. The following year I voluntarily, readily even, competed for places on the house swim team, both in relays and individual events. 

Through my later teen years, my university years and well into my adult life I snorkelled, kayaked, surf skied, and confidently swam laps at local pools to maintain fitness levels. Water and everything it had to offer was a most enjoyed recreational pursuit, a different world, and one that I loved.

Later, as a parent working overseas, I myself undertook the role of swim teacher to my children, twice a week, starting at a very early age. I wanted them to have the opportunity to enjoy the delights of water activities just as I was able to. And I wanted them to be able to do so safely and responsibly. More than a decade on and they are now accomplished swim squad swimmers at Surrey Park Swimming, enjoy surfing, and my older daughter has her sights set on a career in the water as a marine biologist.

Myself? I am now in my 50s and increasingly aware of the importance of maintaining fitness, health and mobility. As such, I have recently once again committed to swimming regularly. Honestly, it feels great.

One evening, 18th March, 2025, I read an article in The Guardian entitled, ‘Nearly half of Australia’s year 6 students can’t swim 50 metres or tread water for two minutes’ (1). The article reflects on new research released today by Royal Life Saving Australia. It has found that 48% of year 6 students in Australia are unable to reach the minimum Australian National Swimming benchmark for swimming at that age, namely being able to swim continuously for 50 metres and tread water for 2 minutes. The research also shows very little improvement in swimming skills between year 6 and year 10: at year 10 level, 39% of students still cannot meet year 6 benchmarks and 84% cannot reach the year 10 benchmarks (2). The research further found that one third of Australian primary schools no longer facilitate any swimming program at all and that one in four schools no longer hold school swimming carnivals.  

Speaking to the ABC news, Royal Life Saving Australia CEO Dr Justin Scarr says, “We risk creating a generation with extremely poor swimming skills. One in 10 kids aged five to 14 had never attended a lesson in any form.” (3)18 March 2025, 

I had never for a moment imagined that in the land of Kylie McKeon, King Kyle, and Ariarne Titmus, so many teenage Australians were lacking in even the most basic swimming skills. I thought about the embarrassment, the FOMO (fear of missing out), and the world of water based activities that they may never enjoy. Then, more gravely, the risk of drowning.

Annual numbers of drowning fatalities in Australia have been rising over the last two years and in the summer of 2024-25 an unprecedented 104 people drowned. At particular risk are young adults becoming increasingly independent and ‘risk averse’ whilst at the same time not necessarily having adequate swimming and water safety skills. Reflecting this, in Victoria the age group 18-24 recorded the highest number of fatal drownings in 2024. Lack of swimming skills is recognised as a major contributing factor (4). 

This, simply, is why it is so important that teenagers learn swimming and water safety skills. Dr Amy Peeden, UNSW School of Population Health and a specialist in drowning prevention, observes, “That’s really our last age to intervene before these kids are out in the world facing different drowning risks throughout their adulthood” (5).

For me, personally, learning to swim as a teenager made available to me pastimes that I continue to pursue to this day. Whether for similar reasons, or simply to guard against the risk of fatal drowning, swimming is a life skill that everyone should be encouraged to attain. 

At Surrey Park Swimming we provide age appropriate swimming lessons for teenagers to learn with their peers. Participants are grouped according to ability and learn swimming and water safety skills that will help them when visiting aquatic environments with their friends.

Tim, Surrey Park Staff member

References

1. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/17/nearly-half-of-australias-year-6-students-cant-swim-50-metres-or-tread-water-for-two-minutes
2. https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/32192/RLS_SwimWaterSafety_NatBenchmarks-Assessment.pdf
3. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-18/australian-school-children-falling-behind-swimming-skills/105066288
4. https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/85324/RLS_NationalDrowningReport2024_WEB.pdf
5. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-18/australian-school-children-falling-behind-swimming-skills/105066288