Nearly half of Australia’s year 6 students can’t swim 50 metres or tread water for two minutes

National guidelines recommend all Australians ‘should be able to float or tread water for two minutes and swim continuously for 50 metres’ by the age of 12. Photograph: Royal Life Saving Australia

Almost half of all year 6 students can’t float or tread water for two minutes and swim continuously for 50 metres, amid concerns over rising drownings in Australia.

Royal Life Saving Australia found teachers estimated that 48% of students were unable to perform these skills by the age of 12, which are recommended in national guidelines, and 39% of students were still unable to by year 10.