For 40 years, Royal Life Saving’s Swim and Survive program has been instrumental in providing children in Australia with the skills and knowledge to be safer when in, on and around water.

The Swim and Survive program was developed in 1982 by a group of subject matter experts in swimming and water safety education to provide a comprehensive program of swimming, water safety and survival skills for all who wish to prepare for activity in or near the water. At the time it was considered that children old enough to start formal education have matured sufficiently to commence their swimming and water safety education, hence it was especially suitable for primary school aged children.

The growth of aquatic recreation due to greater mobility, affluence, choice of recreational activities and urbanisation, along with an analysis of the drowning fatalities at the time, including poor swimming and survival techniques, influenced the development of Swim and Survive.

Over the years the Swim and Survive program has been reviewed numerous times to ensure it reflects best practice and is supported by the most current research available. The look and the feel of the brand has evolved several times but the essence of the original Swim and Survive program has never changed. The original focus to teach participants a wide range of swimming, water safety, lifesaving and survival skills, provide an opportunity to apply the skills learned for a range of aquatic environments and conditions, and include knowledge, awareness and assessment elements continues to underpin the program today.