It's Time to Go Swim!

Swimming is one of the most popular sports in Australia. Our nation is surrounded by water, and swimming is one of our nation's great passions. Many individuals grow up with a swimming pool in their backyard, or in their town or suburb, thus swimming has become a way of life for many Australians (young and old). As well as being awesome fun, swimming is a great way to make new friends, keep fit and learn new exciting skills. You never know - one day you might swim for Australia!

Currently there are 100,000 registered swimming members in Australia, so be apart of Australia's premier Olympic sport and join a club and dive in today!

We hope you find all the information you need right here, from programs provided by Royal Life Saving, Swimming SA

What is Swim and Survive?

More than swimming lessons, it's an adventure!

Royal Life Saving's Swim and Survive program is a national swimming and water safety program educating 5 to 14 year olds all over Australia. Since 1982 nearly 10 million Australians have participated in the program. During this time there has been a 75% reduction in drowning deaths in the 5-14 year age group.

Swim and Survive provides a broad, balanced program of swimming, water safety and survival skills in preparation for a lifetime of safe activity in, on or near the water.

Swim and Survive develops:

• Swimming technique

• Water safety

• Water confidence

• Survival

• Endurance

Swim and Survive caters for children of all abilities. The early levels provide opportunities to build confidence and respect for the water, whilst the upper levels prepare the child for the increased complexity of their relationship with aquatic environments.

Bright and colourful certificates reward children for the many developmental steps that they will take in learning to Swim and Survive. Remember that a quality swimming and water safety program should extend throughout the child's schooling.

To find out where your local Swim and Survive program is conducted, click here

What is SA Water VACSWIM?

SA Water VACSWIM is a South Australian Government funded program provided by the YMCA for school aged children from 5 years and up. The program provides participants with opportunities to develop a range of skills and positive experiences in the areas of water safety, confidence and competence in the water, personal survival activities, emergency procedures and basic swimming stroke improvement.

The program is conducted by qualified instructors in a controlled environment, located at school pools, public and private pools, beaches and lakes throughout South Australia.

The aim and outcomes for SA Water VACSWIM to provide opportunities for participants to be involved in activities that will develop:

• Water safety knowledge in, on and around water;

• Confidence and competence in and around aquatic environments;

• Personal survival skills;

• Emergency procedures, safe self-rescue and the rescue of others; and

• Swimming strokes and skills.

The program also:

• Provides opportunities for participants to enjoy the recreational aspect of involvement in water related activities.

• Provides participants with an opportunity to experience, and develop skills in, a variety of water safety, swimming and aquatic based activities.

• Provides instruction for participants to develop skills in accepted swimming strokes.

• Provides instruction and training to enable skills to be developed to ensure for personal safety and the safety of others in aquatic environments.

• Encourages participants with special needs to use water as a form of recreation and therapy.

More information can be obtained by clicking here.

Swimming SA

Swimming SA is an organisation that provides competitive swimming for swimming clubs that are affiliated or members of Swimming SA. The Clubs provide professional coaching enabling swimmers to compete at national level as offering other levels of completion, recreational and fun activities. For more information click here

What is AUSTSWIM?

AUSTSWIM is Australia's national organisation for the teaching of swimming and water safety. AUSTSWIM has developed quality aquatic education program for those wishing to enter the aquatic industry as a teacher of swimming and water safety. 

The AUSTSWIM accreditation is the industry standard for swimming and water safety teachers and is delivered and recognised in each state and territory of Australia and many countries overseas. Areas of training include:

• Swimming and Water Safety
• Infant and Preschool
• Adults
• People with disability
• Towards competitive strokes
• Community education programs

For further information becoming an AUSTSWIM licensed teacher of swimming and water safety or to find a course in your area, please click here  

It's important to ensure that your child's teacher holds a current and appropriate AUSTSWIM teacher licence according to the aquatic education programs being taught. Look for the AUSTSWIM platypus logo and current AUSTSWIM recognised swim school certificate when you visit an aquatic facility. 

To find an AUSTSWIM swim school in your area click here

Are you thinking about joining a Swimming Club?

Not sure what to do?

Firstly is your child currently in a learn to swim program or swim school? If so then speak to your instructor to see if they have a relationship with a local Club. If they do not have a relationship with a Club you should investigate some of the Clubs in your area.

You should consider more than one Club before joining, as each Club will offer different opportunities and activities. To find a Swimming SA club go here, or go to Swim Club here

FUN STUFF!!!

The National Water Safety Quiz has been designed by the Royal Life Saving Society - Australia to explore your knowledge about how to keep safe in, on and around the water. The Quiz has a time limit of 20 minutes in which you should try and answer as many of the 27 questions as possible.

To start the quiz click here