"Water safety is a whole of life skill - it is 'foundation learning' and every Australian must be provided with the opportunity to acquire and maintain a minimum standard of Water Safety competency." Australian Water Safety Council - National Water safety Plan 2004 - 2007.
Australian Water Safety Council, National Water Safety Plan recommendation 1: reads "That Water Safety Competency and Success Targets be set for all Australian children - established at appropriate Age/Development levels."
The Tasmanian Government has endorsed the concept of a minimum standard of achievement for pupils leaving primary school.
For Primary age children the minimum recommended standard is for competencies equivalent to the Royal Life Saving Society's Swim & Survive Award, Level 4 (Water Wise). This standard equates to completing all elements of stage two of the Tasmanian Education Department Swimming & Water Safety Program Record of Development Card.
The Tasmanian implementation of the minimum national benchmark for the Swimming & Water Safety Program was introduced in 2001, and students achieving this standard at the completion of their grade 5 year all receive RLSS Swim and Survive level 4 certificates in addition to their personal Record of Development Card issued by the Department of Education.
Achieved National Bench Mark - Grade 5 2004
Medical and health care requirements
Drug education