Swimming in Schools (Reference 115)
The Swimming in Schools is designed to increase opportunities for students to learn how to swim, and ensure they develop lifelong skills in swimming and water safety.
Swimming and water safety education is embedded across all bands of the Victorian Curriculum (F-10). By the end of Year 6, it is anticipated that students are able to demonstrate the skills and knowledge in the Victorian Water Safety Certificate (VWSC). Schools can seek the assistance of swimming providers to provide swimming and water safety programs, to assess the competencies of their students and to award VWSC through the VWSC portal.
The Swimming in Schools initiative provides a funding contribution to assist in the delivery of swimming and water safety programs.
Funding will be distributed through the Student Resource Package.
Eligibility
Schools with the following campus types are eligible to receive Swimming in Schools funding at school level:
- Primary
- Primary/Secondary Combined
- Special
- Day Special
- Deaf (excluding deaf campuses of mainstream schools)
- Disability
- Special Development
- English Language
Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised cycles; funding is provided through cash funding.
Funding allocation
Primary and primary/secondary schools
Funding is allocated based on the number of primary school enrolments.
Schools are to use the funding to support program provision at any year level.
Specialist schools and English language schools
Funding is allocated based on the number of enrolments.
Schools are to use the funding to support program provision at any year level.
Rates
Primary and primary/secondary schools – cash ($) allocation
- $40 per student per year
- $48 per student per year for schools who are eligible for Rural School Size Adjustment Factor loadings
Base funding
A primary or primary/secondary school will receive a base of $2,000 if the per student rate comes to less than $2,000.
Metropolitan Victorian government specialist and English language schools – cash ($) allocation
- Specialist school – per student: $235
- English language school – per student: $235
Regional Victorian government specialist and English language schools – cash ($) allocation
- Specialist school – per student: $270
- English language school – per student: $270
Reporting in CASES21
Schools must record their expenditure and student attendance information for swimming and water-safety programs in CASES21.
- The attendance code is 620: Swimming and Water Safety Program
- The financial code is 4209: Swimming in Schools
Contact: school.swimming@education.vic.gov.au
Reviewed 27 March 2025