All state primary students will be taught vital swimming and survival skills as part of a new State initiative, following the success of the Save our Schoolkids campaign which revealed a decline in swimming ability.

Education Minister Grace Grace is set to announce the plan today. Under the new plan, students at all state primary schools will have a water safety and/or learn-to-swim program from 2019.

The Queensland Government will commit three point eight million annually—an increase of two point one eight million per year—to expand the swimming programs, which will comply with national standards of the Australian Water Safety Council.