Hepburn Shire has been selected as the pilot community for the Victorian Government’s new virtual learn-to-swim program, eSwim, with the initiative positioned as a timely response to both regional infrastructure gaps and the imminent closure of the Daylesford pool.
Announced by the recently appointed Minister for e-Health, Mary Spoonwith, the program has been framed as a compensatory measure to ensure local children do not “miss out on essential water safety skills” as physical facilities become increasingly difficult to maintain.
“Communities like Hepburn have told us they want solutions,” Minister Spoonwith said. “eSwim delivers water safety outcomes without relying on ageing infrastructure or costly upgrades.”
The announcement follows a State Budget that again prioritised major metropolitan capital works, while smaller regional facilities, often more modest in cost but no less essential, continue to be assessed against “long-term sustainability metrics.”
Under the program, all students in Grades 2 to 5 will complete a structured online curriculum in swimming technique and hazard awareness. The traditional requirements of pools, instructors, transport, and supervision, have been removed, allowing for what the Minister described as a “more efficient and scalable model of delivery.”
Students who complete five hours of online modules will be formally recognised as “water safe,” with a new eSwim digital accreditation replacing the long-standing Herald certificate.
Those undertaking the full 20-hour program will be classified as “proficient swimmers,” having demonstrated competency in floating, stroke development, and rescue response through interactive simulations and assessment tasks.
Progress will be monitored through the Vic eSwim app, which will provide real-time tracking, milestone notifications, and ongoing reinforcement activities. Families will also receive guidance on how to support students in applying their theoretical knowledge in everyday settings.
Students will have additional opportunities to further their swimming proficiency through the VCE Vocational Educational Training scheme which articulates with the eSwim accreditation. Local secondary students will be able to enrol in a VCE VET Certificate III in Aquatics and Recreation to become qualified eSwim instructors through graduated and integrated on-line learning modules featuring simulated individual and group eSwim lessons.
Students will also be able to develop their diving skills through an optional VCE virtual diving module in PE which will mitigate the risk of injury associated with more traditional water-based instructional modalities.
Local councillors have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a pragmatic response to current economic pressures.
“While the imminent closure of the Daylesford pool is a loss, this program ensures our community continues to receive essential services in a modern, accessible way,” one councillor said. “It reflects a broader shift toward delivering outcomes without being constrained by physical assets.”
Council is expected to explore additional opportunities linked to the rollout, including locally supported eSwim sessions and a calendar of at-home competitions where students can demonstrate their understanding of stroke sequencing and water safety principles.
Although some community members have raised questions about the absence of in-water experience, the Minister emphasised that the program is grounded in “evidence-based theory” and designed to deliver consistent, measurable outcomes across all settings.
“If a child understands water safety, they are safer,” she said.
The government has indicated that, if successful, the eSwim model could be extended to other service areas currently dependent on physical infrastructure.
In the meantime, Hepburn will have the distinction of proving that, with the right policy settings and innovative eLearning developments, even swimming can be delivered without getting wet.
