Supporting Our Workforce

AUSTSWIM Candidates Completing Workplace Training

The workplace training requirements for AUSTSWIM Candidates completing the Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety Licence, since April 2024, have changed and the FAQs below have been put together to help venues and their Candidates.

 

FAQs – AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety, Candidate Handbook

Yes, to include the required assessment tasks. It has also been colour-coded – the pages in green represent work to be undertaken by the Candidate at the face-to-face part of the course and the pages in black are for work undertaken by the Candidate during the workplace training part of the course.

The Candidate must complete the form and it must be signed by the AUSTSWIM Trainer on the day.

  • The AUSTSWIM or accredited Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety must fill in the boxes on the lines from 1-10. The Swim School Coordinator/Manager/Deck Supervisor/Swim School owner must sign the end of the Workplace Training Logbook where it says, “Recommendation for Teaching Under Supervision”.

  • The Workplace Training Logbook outlines all the skills required to be taught by the units of competency in the swimming and water safety skillset (SISSS00132). Additional training is at the discretion and advice of the aquatic venue/swim school.

The Candidate must complete all the required fields.

  • The Candidate must teach each lesson with a minimum of four (4) students and the lesson should be for 30 minutes. The regular class teacher remains in the water, supervising the Candidate.

  • The supervising AUSTSWIM or accredited Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety must complete the required fields. This is NOT done by the Swim School Manager, Deck Supervisor, Swim School Coordinator / Swim School Owner.

  • The five (5) lesson plans (pages 14 – 16) must be signed off by the person who is in the water as supervisor with the student (not the deck supervisor) 

  • The Record of Workplace Training and Teaching Under Supervision, (page 17), must be signed by the Swim School Coordinator/Manager/Deck Supervisor/Swim School Owner.

This must be signed by the Swim School Coordinator/Manager/Deck Supervisor/Swim School Owner.

The supervising teacher in the water is required to sign each line of the Workplace Training Logbook. In some circumstances, particularly in regional and remote areas or small independent swim schools, this person could also be the Swim School Owner. If there is any doubt, please contact AUSTSWIM for further clarification.

 

Yes. The Candidate Handbook must be completed as per the instructions in that version of the Candidate Handbook.

The requirements are as set out in that version of the Candidate Handbook. Candidates must also complete nine (9) lesson observations. 

  • In Vocational Education and Training (VET), the Assessor is a person who holds a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40116 or equivalent). All AUSTSWIM Trainers hold this qualification and can assess practical tasks undertaken during the face-to-face part of the course. Once the Candidate has completed and submitted their Candidate Handbook to AUSTSWIM, a team of in-house VET Assessors mark and finalise the remaining assessment tasks.

  • The supervising teacher of swimming and water safety must have at least two (2) years’ experience. They may be an AUSTSWIM Teacher or any other accredited Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety.

Due to the change in assessment requirements, the Candidate will need to attend the face-to-face part of the course again (two days or equivalent. This will be at no extra cost to the Candidate.

 

The Candidate can attend the part of the face-to-face component that they missed (e.g. the second day). Candidates should contact AUSTSWIM to re-book.

The completed Candidate Handbook must be uploaded to AUSTSWIM via the AUSTSWIM Teacher Hub.  To do this, Candidates must have set up their Streamline account.  Instructions can be found at Welcome to Streamline | AUSTSWIM 

AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety Course

The review of the Sports, Aquatics and Recreation skillset highlighted a need for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to provide more consistent, job and pool-ready swimming and water safety teachers.  As a result, five new units of competency were brought in, that supersede the previous units:
The Swimming and Water Safety Skillset, SISSS00132, now includes the following five units of competency:
  1. SISCAQU020 Perform water rescues
  2. SISCAQU023 Plan swimming lessons
  3. SISCAQU024 Teach water familiarisation, buoyancy and mobility skills
  4. SISCAQU025 Teach aquatic safety and survival skills
  5. SISCAQU026 Teach swimming strokes
These new units of competency contain more assessment tasks for a candidate to undertake, including, but not limited to, writing six 30-minute lesson plans and teaching nine 30-minute lessons, hence the update of the AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety course from April 2024.
 
Swim schools are pivotal in training and developing the next generation of AUSTSWIM Swimming and Water Safety Teachers.
 
With nearly 10,000 AUSTSWIM candidates completing their industry training annually in aquatic centres and swim schools across the country and overseas; the aquatic workforce is integral to the community and in teaching lifesaving skills.
 
An AUSTSWIM Teacher is responsible for teaching many students every week, some may even teach over 100 students weekly depending on the number of hours they work. This highlights the significant reach and influence of our swim school network.
 
Every course that AUSTSWIM offers aligns with industry standards and guidelines, ensuring future AUSTSWIM Teachers of Swimming and Water Safety receive the most up-to-date knowledge and skills that have been taught to them by our team of qualified AUSTSWIM Trainers and Assessors.
Training packages in the VET sector (Vocational Education and Training) are updated regularly to ensure they remain current with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
There is a requirement for workplace training, and the purpose is for the Candidate to gain on-the-job experience. It requires the candidate to:
  • Gain appropriate experience by observing AUSTSWIM or other accredited Teachers of Swimming and Water Safety teach swimming and water safety activities to students with a range of ages and abilities.
  • Gain appropriate experience by co-teaching swimming and water safety activities to students with a range of age and abilities whilst under direct supervision.
Together, we are building a sustainable and robust workforce that meets the needs of our community every day.  

 


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Join the AUSTSWIM Swim School Network

- Proudly aligned with Australia’s most trusted swim teacher education organisation.
The AUSTSWIM Swim School Network connects swim schools around Australia with exclusive benefits, credibility, recognition and national alignment with Australia’s most trusted swim teacher education organisation. 
 
Whether you’re a large swim school or a small community program, joining the network means you’ll be recognised for your commitment to AUSTSWIM-accredited training, gain exclusive discounts, first access to networking opportunities and feature on our national Swim School Finder. 
 
Benefits of Joining: (applies to swim schools of all sizes)
  • Swim School Network digital logo and window decal 
  • First access to exclusive networking opportunities  
  • Listing on the AUSTSWIM Swim School Finder  
  • *Bulk enrolment discount for Swim Schools for courses held at your venue   
  • Priority service and member-only support 
  • Promotional opportunities and campaign inclusion
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AUSTSWIM

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Pricing is based on the size of your swim school to ensure value and accessibility for all.

SSN - Pricing

 

Questions? Contact our Swim School Network team at swimschoolnetwork@austswim.com.au

 


Information For Parents and Caregivers

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Why choose an AUSTSWIM Network Swim School?

By choosing an AUSTSWIM Network Swim School, parents and caregivers have peace of mind knowing their child is at a swim school that employs AUSTSWIM Licensed Teachers – the highest-trained Teachers of Swimming and Water Safety nationwide. AUSTSWIM Licensed Teachers have undertaken world-class training, are fully insured and abide by a Code of Conduct in their day-to-day teaching.

AUSTSWIM Licensed Teachers undertake training in early childhood development and appropriate skill development and are trained to nurture, motivate and enhance water safety knowledge.

 


AUSTSWIM Learning Pillars

KNOWLEDGE

Water awareness and familiarity gained by experience and education.

SKILL

The acquired skills to successfully participate in water activities.

UNDERSTANDING

Gain insight and good judgment in and around aquatic locations.