What has happened to all the swimming teachers?
The aquatic industry is experiencing an extreme shortage of swimming teachers, directly impacting School of Little Swimmers. We hope that promoting and speaking up about the need for swimming teachers in the industry will motivate people to explore the option of becoming swimming teachers.
Across Australia, there is currently a shortage of swimming teachers, affecting the entire industry. In Australia, swimming teachers are required to have a license to teach swimming. To obtain a licence, you need to complete a two-day training course and on-the-job training. Due to Covid-19, a limited number of swimming teacher courses have been available, which has exacerbated the extreme shortage of swimming teachers in the aquatic industry.
In the past, SOLS has been fortunate enough to be unaffected by the shortage of swimming teachers. However, the addition of Covid-19 has seen many teachers leave the industry and has meant that SOLS has fewer teachers employed. School of Little Swimmers owner, Alice, has been teaching swimming for over 15 years and is highly passionate about educating children to be safe and competent around water.
“Teaching swimming is my happy place. It’s a time when nothing else matters for me, as I am so focused on teaching the students. The most rewarding part of teaching swimming for me is knowing that students are proud of what they have achieved. I had worked in many industries before I started ‘School of Little Swimmers’ and nothing compared to working as a swimming teacher. I couldn’t see myself working in any other industry – it’s what I love doing.
AUSTSWIM Training Courses
School of Little Swimmers is an AUSTSWIM recognised Swim Centre. 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.
The AUSTSWIM Teacher Licence™ is the industry standard for swimming and water safety teachers™. AUSTSWIM courses are delivered and recognised in each state and territory of Australia and many countries overseas.
For more information on AUSTSWIM Courses, please visit the links in this article or in the Page Links Column.
To find a course in your area click here!
(Article content courtesy of AUSTSWIM)
What’s it like to be a Swimming Teacher
Swimming Instructors help people of all ages learn to swim and instruct them on matters of water safety. They are trained in aquatic safety, survival and rescue skills and are proficient swimmers, usually capable of swimming at least 25 metres in any given swimming stroke. They often work with children, teaching them water familiarisation, buoyancy techniques and safe diving techniques.
Tasks and duties
- Teaching people of all ages how to swim, basic swimming strokes and water safety.
- Planning and implementing teaching strategies, gathering basic documentation to support and reinforce in-person training.
- Teaching principles of movement in water.
- Teaching basic aquatic survival and rescue skills.
- Developing water familiarisation, buoyancy and mobility in children and people of all ages.
- Teaching safer diving skills.
- Supporting efficient stroke development.
- Supervising public swimming pools and group swimming sessions.
(Article content courtesy of Seek)
However, running a swim school has its challenges, especially when we are drastically under-staffed.”School of Little Swimmers is a supportive swim school, and we welcome like-minded, passionate teachers joining our team. We invite you to share this message and help us promote the aquatic industry as a great working environment. If you or anyone you know is interested in working in the aquatic industry and joining the SOLS team, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Becoming a Swimming Teacher may become a great career path for you. We at SOLS are always interest to talk to you about a possible career as a Swimming Instructor.
Feel free to contact us any time regarding a career in swimming, or at least point you in the right direction.
Teaching swimming is my happy place. It’s a time when nothing else matters for me, as I am so focused on teaching the students. The most rewarding part of teaching swimming for me is knowing that students are proud of what they have achieved.
Want to find out more?
contact us and we will find the best solution for you and your child. If you want to give us a go, we have a questionaire to help find out what class is suitable for your child.