Parents of school age children in WA have reacted warmly to a state government initiative to provide free VacSwim lessons this summer.

It’s part of a $5.5 million investment towards school swimming and water safety.

Premier Roger Cook says the free swimming lessons will help drive down cost of living pressures for Western Australian families.

The plan will help families save up to $214 for attending a 10-day VacSwim program.

VacSwim has been running across more than 175 locations in WA for over 100 years.

Mother Amanda Greenman, a GP from Perth’s northern suburbs, says the initiative which makes swimming accessible to all socio-economic groups is wonderful.

The lessons, for ages 5–17-year-olds, teach essential swimming skills and hazard awareness to keep kids safe around bodies of water.

According to data from Royal Lifesaving Society, in the last 20 years more than 532 children aged four and under have drowned, and more than half of that number have been in swimming pools.

Surf Life Saving WA data shows 50% of coastal drowning deaths this 2023-24 summer occurred in January – which equates to just over two coastal drowning deaths recorded every three days.

The Labor government is also granting free in-term classes for smaller, low ICSEA non-government schools.

Education minister Dr Tony Buti says as West Australians, access to swimming lessons is crucial to safely enjoy the coastal lifestyle.

“It’s a small, but important measure to ensure students from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged to learn to swim.”