National Swimming and Water Safety Benchmark

December 17, 2023

Every Australian at the age of 6 years should be able to:

ldentify rules for safe behaviour at aquatic environments at or near the home

Enter and exit shallow water unassisted

Float and recover to a standing or secure position

Move continuously for 5 meters

Submerge the body and move through an obstacle

ldentify people and actions to help in an aquatic emergency

Perform a survival sequence to simulate an accidental entry

Every Australian at the age of 12 years should be able to:

Understand and respect safety rules for a range of aquatic environments

Enter and exit the water for a range of environments

Float, scull or tread water for 2 minutes and signal for help

Swim continuously for 50 metres

Surface dive, swim under water and search to recover an object from deep water

Respond to an emergency and perform a primary assessment

Rescue a person using a non-swimming rescue technique with non-rigid aids

Perform a survival sequence wearing light clothing

50% of all Australians at the age of 17 years should be able to:

Understand behaviours that affect personal safety in aquatic environments and activities

Assist others to exit deep water using bystanders

Float, scull or tread water for5 minutes and signal for help

Swim continuously for 400 metres

Search in a deep water environment and recover a person

Respond to an emergency and provide first aid

Rescue an unconscious person in deep water

Perform a survival sequence wearing heavy clothing

(Source from Royal Life Saving Australia)