Swimming and Water Safety
Instructor resources and guidelines
Centre supervisors
Centre supervisors appointed to the VacSwim program are required to fully understand and comply with the Department of Education administrative and operational procedures.
Supervisors attend professional development seminars prior to the commencement of the program and receive training in relation to the information and procedures published in the following:
- Vacswim Centre Supervisor’s Administrative Handbook [PDF]
- Department of Education Swimming Instructor's Handbook and Guidelines [PDF]
- Community Aquatic Rescue - Candidate's Training and Assessment Workbook [PDF]
Swimming instructors
All VacSwim Instructors are fully qualified with an Austswim Certificate, current CPR Certificate, a Working with Children Check and the Department of Education Criminal Record Check prior to commencing. They teach in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Department of Education Swimming Instructor's Handbook and Guidelines [PDF].
Pool or calm water continuum
Swimming and Water Safety Continuum (Stages 1-9), Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) personal survival (Stages 10 to 12) and Rescue Awards (stages 13 to 16).
Beach or surf centre continuum
Swimming and Surf Safety Continuum (Stages 1-9) and higher awards (Stages 10 to 15). The skill progression in the ‘surf’ differs slightly to ‘calm water’ because of the variable conditions children and instructors encounter in this environment.
Higher stages at beach or surf centres include advanced surf awareness and is similar to that which operates in surf clubs. Specific information regarding the higher awards can be gained by contacting VacSwim.
