The Queensland Government is committed to providing a high quality water safety education for all students.
School requirements
In line with the department’s
K–12 Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Framework, Queensland state schools are required to provide a water safety education program in Prep to Year 6. Schools are encouraged to implement the program as part of the delivery of the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education.
Individual state schools determine how they provide their water safety education program in line with the
statement of expectations: water safety and learn to swim education programs. This statement provides additional information about program expectations, qualifications and competencies.
Schools must complete a
Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment (CARA) that complies with the requirements outlined in the specific water location
guidelines. Additional risks, hazards and control measures supplied by an external provider must be included with this risk assessment.
Core funding (learn to swim)
The water safety education funding model supports schools in delivering a water safety education program. Primary and special schools without pools receive core funding annually.
Water safety education grant
The water safety education grant supports schools who experience challenges when implementing a water safety education program.
The grant is in addition to core funding (learn to swim).
Applications for the 2026/2027 water safety education grant open
in Semester 2, 2026.
Water safety education program
To support schools to implement water safety programs, the Department of Education has developed the water safety education program. All resources are based on current water safety and industry best practice and are aligned to the:
- National Swimming and Water Safety Framework
- Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education (HPE) achievement standards and content descriptions.
The program provides 8 lessons for each band of years (Prep, Years 1 and 2, Years 3 and 4, Years 5 and 6, Years 7 and 8, and Years 9 and 10). Supporting materials for implementing the program include guidelines, sequence of competency, competency checklists, glossary, curriculum alignment and planning resources. The program is available to all Queensland state schools via the Curriculum Gateway and non-state schools via
Scootle.
For further information, enquiries can be sent to
water.safety@qed.qld.gov.au.