Coroner urges Australian state to add mandatory swimming lessons to elementary curriculum

A coroner is lobbying the Australian state of Victoria to make swimming lessons compulsory for elementary school children following the death of a nine-year- old boy in 2012.

The child drowned while playing with his friends at a Melbourne beach, and in findings related to the death released by coroner Caitlin English on Wednesday, she recommended that swimming lessons be made compulsory as part of school curriculum.

"Whilst there has been a widespread focus on the importance of adult supervision of children around water, a lack of swimming ability among children contributes to an increased risk of drowning," the findings said.

A recent study by Life Saving Victoria (LSV) revealed that up to 60 percent of Victorian children finishing elementary school could not swim to a "basic standard".

Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett said the government would take on board the recommendations put forward by the coroner, while LSV spokesperson Kate Simpson told News Corp on Wednesday that she agreed with coroner English.

"We say that elementary school is the optimal time to teach children basic water safety and life saving skills," she said.

She told 3AW radio that while it might seem like an easy fix, schools already face full days of curriculum and might not be able to fit in mandatory swimming lessons.

"Many schools are facing barriers to actually running swimming and water safety education in schools," Simpson said.

"(It can be) a crowded curriculum, swimming lessons take time out of a busy school day, the cost of transport, the cost of program instruction, costs associated with running the programs." Endi