The Swim Safety & Access Gap Index (SSAGI) combines three critical dimensions:

• Drowning risk

• Lesson capacity (access)

• Swimming participation (demand)

 

We measured drowning risk

 

• Calculated the 3-year average drowning rate (2022-23 to 2024-25) for each state and territory.

 

Mapped lesson capacity (access)

 

• Counted the number of ‘swimming instruction’ businesses (ANZSIC code 8211 as proxy data) in each state and territory.

 

Estimated swimming participation (demand)

 

• Used AusPlay data portal (2023-24 survey)

 

Combined all these into one standardised index, weighting:

 

• 50% - drowning risk

• 30% - lesson capacity

• 20% - swimming participation (demand)

 

A higher SSAGI score means a larger gap