Training

There are several relevant Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses that provide training in the skills relevant to, or required for, aquatic safety and/or swimming instruction. These include qualifications in first aid and resuscitation, lifesaving, pool lifeguard, swimming instructor or teacher, and swimming coach.

The Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package, opens in a new tab identifies the competencies required as the industry standard. Organisations delivering VET registered courses must be a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and are subject to quality assurance within the VET system.

These organisations offer VET recognised training courses and are Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).

• AUSTSWIM, opens in a new tab. Offers training courses and an accredited licensing system for Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety, Teacher of Infant and Preschool Aquatics, Teacher of Aquatics – Access and Inclusion, Teacher of Towards Competitive Strokes, and Teacher of Adults. AUSTSWIM also provides a swim school registration program as a quality assurance measure.
• Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia, opens in a new tab. The peak body for swimming coaches, teachers and swim schools in Australia. They provide various Accreditation qualifications including Swimming and Water Safety Teacher, Teacher of Babies and Toddlers, Teacher of Learners with Disability, Swim Squad Fundamentals, Pool Lifeguard (baseline and update), Certificate III in Sports, Aquatics and Recreation, Aquatic Survival Skills, and First aid training. Teachers who wish to renew their teaching licence with Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia are required to accumulate – and provide evidence of having accumulated – 15 Professional Development points during their 3-year licence cycle.
• Royal Life Saving Australia, opens in a new tab (RLSA). Training courses include: first aid, pool lifeguard, Bronze Medallion, resuscitation, and swim teaching.
• Surf Life Saving Australia, opens in a new tab (SLSA). Offers training and post training accreditation for lifesavers, lifeguard, and surf lifesaving coaches.

Other RTOs, such as TAFE Colleges and private training providers, may satisfy the requirement to deliver courses registered and recognised by the organisations listed above.

Within the aquatics industry (principally commercial providers of swimming instruction) there are several organisations that are dedicated to the professional practices used by swim schools; these organisations include AUSTSWIM, Royal Life Saving Society, Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia, and the Australian Swim Schools Association.

• Australian Swim Schools Association, opens in a new tab (ASSA). The ASSA is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to enhance the learn to swim and water safety industry, through its network of Member Swim Schools. ASSA provides Member Swim Schools with products, services and professional development opportunities to significantly enhance business operations. It believes that Learning to Swim should be accessible to everyone, and the life-long health, safety, fun and fitness benefits of swimming are essential for all.