Westminster Leads the Way in Water Safety Education

Westminster’s Commitment to Lifelong Water Safety

With a national decline in swimming ability placing young South Australians at risk, Westminster has taken decisive steps to ensure every student gains the essential skills to stay safe and confident in the water.

Recent findings revealed that nearly half of Aussie Year 6 students cannot swim 50 metres or tread water for two minutes — well below the national benchmark. Even by Year 10, many students are still falling short.

Drowning fatalities have also increased, with 104 lives lost over the most recent summer, marking a 5% rise. Despite these damning statistics, many schools have reduced or eliminated their aquatic programs altogether.

“At Westminster we view water safety as a non-negotiable life skill — as essential as literacy and numeracy — and we are taking meaningful steps to ensure our students not only meet but exceed national benchmarks,” WestSwim Manager Sophie Wanstall said.

Over the past year, the School has strengthened its commitment to high-quality, accessible swimming education through a series of purposeful initiatives.

“We have brought the delivery of compulsory swimming lessons for Reception to Year 6 students in-house at the WestSwim School, ensuring every child receives consistent, high-quality instruction from trusted instructors, many of whom are already familiar to our community,” Sophie said.

“Our WestSwim instructors are also delivering the aquatics component of Physical Education for Years 7 and 8, making sure that students receive continued, progressive instruction beyond the early years.”

Sophie emphasised that water safety was critical for participation in Westminster’s Outdoor Education program — a cornerstone of the Westminster experience.

“Whether kayaking, surfing or snorkelling, confidence in water directly contributes to each student’s personal growth, resilience and enjoyment of these memorable experiences.”

WestSwim offers lessons seven days a week, including private sessions, for children and adults, creating flexible options for busy families. To make swimming lessons more accessible to the entire community, WestSwim now accepts Sports Vouchers and is a recognised provider with HCF Health Fund, reducing financial pressure on families.

The swim school will also hold a school holiday intensive program to further provide opportunities for students to build skills at an affordable rate and in a focused environment.

For more information on the WestSwim School, please visit the website here.