Swimming was once synonymous with Australian kids. Whether it was at the beach or in rivers or dams Aussie kids took to the water like proverbial ducks - but that is not the case any more.
The percentage of people who have not learned to swim is rising, and it is a well known fact that once a person leaves primary school as a non swimmer - the chances are that they will never learn to swim.
It seems that learn to swim classes are being dropped by more and more schools because it can not be fitted into their busy curriculum's - or in many cases cost is involved in using a swimming pool and this can not be afforded by parents.
Then there is the religious factor.
Many people who migrate to Australia come from land locked countries and belong to religions which forbid stripping down to a swimming costume. Not only is swimming an unfamiliar activity, there is a positive bias against learning to swim. This seems to be another reason schools are dropping swimming classes - to appease groups from a non swimming culture.
As a result, drowning figures in this country are steadily rising. If this situation is to be reversed we need to get swimming classes back into the school system - and we need positive action to convert religious leaders to the danger facing their flock in this water saturated land.
There is nothing wrong with teaching a kid wearing top to toe covering to swim. What is important is to ensure all kids are water safe !
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