Smart and Skilled

Smart and Skilled funding may be available to eligible NSW residents who are:

• New entrants to the aquatics workforce
• Existing workers seeking to gain a recognised swim teacher qualification
• People returning to the workforce or changing careers

Eligibility is assessed in line with NSW Government Smart and Skilled requirements.

Smart and Skilled provides full funding for the AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety course.

Additional requirements not covered by funding include:

• First aid certification
• Working with children checks
• Uniforms or travel costs

While eligibility depends on many factors, Smart and Skilled course participants must meet the following criteria:

• 16* years or older
• no longer at high school or home-schooled students
• living or working in NSW (or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person living in a specific defined interstate NSW border area)
• an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen
• the holder of a valid Unique Student Identifier (USI) or an applicant for one

*Age adjusted to meet AUSTSWIM licence requirements  

The course is delivered through a blended learning model comprising:

• Two (2) day face-to-face workshop incorporating structured theory sessions, practical instruction and assessment activities
• Self-paced online eLearning including underpinning knowledge content and theory-based assessment tasks (approximately 8–10 hours)
• Workplace training under supervision, enabling candidates to practise and demonstrate required skills in a real workplace environment

Assessment Requirements

Candidates are assessed through a combination of:

• During the face-to-face workshop through practical demonstration and activities
• Throughout supervised workplace training
• While delivering lessons under supervision
• Via completion of the online theory assessment components

Candidates must satisfactorily complete all assessment requirements to be deemed competent.

To remain eligible for funded training, participants are required to: 

• Actively participate in training and assessment
• Meet attendance and completion requirements
• Provide accurate information for the eligibility assessment

Failure to meet participation requirements may affect funding eligibility.

Smart and Skilled funding: 

• Is subject to availability and change
• May be limited to specific course dates and locations
• Is administered in accordance with NSW Government policy

AUSTSWIM cannot guarantee funding approval and recommends confirming eligibility before enrolling.