In a finding released this month, Coroner Caitlin English has recommended that "swimming and water safety education should be a compulsory skill taught within the primary school curriculum to all Victorian children".

The recommendation, which was adopted in agreement with Life Saving Victoria's 2013 report Sink or Swim: The state of Victorian primary school children's swimming ability, found that Victorian school children are lacking necessary swimming and water safety skills, with 60 per cent of Victorian Year 6 students reportedly unable to swim 50 metres.

The recommendation was made in relation to an inquest into the death of 9-year-old Bailey Patman at Seaford Beach in 2012. The finding noted that Bailey was not considered to be a good swimmer by friends and family members and had only had limited access to swimming lessons in his first year of primary school.

To read more of Lifesaving Victoria's article click here.