The Swimming and Water Safety office operates the following hours:
February to August: 8.15am to 4.30pm
September to January: 8.00am to 5.00pm

Contact details:
General Enquiries - 9344 0999
Vacswim Enquiries - 9345 4007
Facsimile - 9344 0900

Postal Address:
PO Box 130
TUART HILL WA 6939

Interm swimming lessons are made available to all primary schools throughout the state, with the Department of Education and Training meeting the cost of instruction for all government and country non-government schools. Which schools and students attend Interm lessons is at the complete discretion of the school principal, however, students from pre-primary to year 7 are eligible to attend.

Participating schools receive an Interm swimming enrolment form, which parents are required to complete and return to the school prior to the commencement of lessons. Parents are generally required to pay a fee, which covers transport and entry costs into the swimming centre.

For specific information regarding the enrolment of students please contact your school.

Vacswim classes are open to anyone 5 years and over on the first day of classes.

Online enrolments are offered to provide you with more choice, better service and a convenient way of enrolling your children into our programs.  To Enrol Online click here

Enrolment forms, together with an information booklet are distributed through schools and swimming centres in August each year. You may view the here Vacswim Enrolment Book [PDF].

PDF versions of the enrolment form are also available for December/January programs and also for October programs, or you can contact the Vacswim office on 9345 4007, or at vacswim@det.wa.edu.au and an enrolment booklet will be posted to you.

Pre-enrolments for the October classes close on the Friday of the first week in September and January classes on the third Friday in November. Specific dates are listed in the Vacswim Enrolment Book [PDF].

Late enrolments may be made at the centre between 11.00am and 12.00 noon on the day prior to the commencement of classes, or at the end of classes on Day One (usually between 12.00 noon and 1.00pm) if vacancies exist.  Late enrolment fees will apply.

The Department of Education and Training’s swimming and water safety program is organised into a number of sequential and developmental stages. All children are re-assessed on Day One of classes to ensure correct enrolment in the appropriate stage.

Achievement in a higher stage is generally contingent on the swimmer having achieved the standards required in the earlier stages. For this reason care should be taken to enrol children in the appropriate stage.

The same twelve stages operate in both the Interm and Vacswim programs, with an additional rescue strand (stages 13 to 16) being also available in the Vacswim program.

For further information on stages 1 to 9 and the requirements for specific skills within these stages, please refer to the Swimming and Water Safety Continuum [PDF] and Swimming Teaching Handbook and Guidelines [PDF].

All children are re-assessed on Day One of classes to ensure correct enrolment in the appropriate stage. Parents should, however, not rely on this re-assessment if they believe their child may have been enrolled in the incorrect stage.

For changes to an Interm enrolment please contact the student’s school or the Department’s Interm supervisor at the swimming centre at which the classes are being conducted.

If you have already enrolled Online and wish to view or update your information click here.

Changes to Vacswim enrolments can be made up to two weeks prior to the commencement of the particular series by contacting the VACSWIM office on 9345 4007 or at Vacswim@det.wa.edu.au.  Any changes thereafter may be made at the centre between 11.00am and 12.00 noon on the day prior to the commencement of classes.

The enrolment fee for the Vacswim program only covers the cost of instruction. Parents will be required to pay an entry fee into the centre and award/examination fees if they apply. Please refer to the Vacswim Enrolment Booklet [PDF] or contact your preferred centre for further information.

Interm swimming fees generally cover the cost of transport and entry fee into the centre. The Department of Education and Training meets the cost of instruction for all government and country non-government schools. Enquiries regarding Interm fees should be directed to the school.

Department classes operate at pool or calm water centres in accordance with its Swimming and Water Safety Continuum [PDF] (stages 1-9) and Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) personal survival (stages 10 to 12) and rescue awards (stages 13 to 16). Specific information regarding the RLSS higher awards can be found at www.bronzerescue.com.au.

At beach or surf centres the Department operates a combination of its Swimming and Surf Safety Continuum [PDF] (stages 1-9) and Surf Life Saving Association higher awards (stages 10 to 15). Higher stages at beach or surf centres include advanced surf awareness and the program is similar to that which operates in surf clubs. Specific information regarding the SLSA higher awards can be gained by contacting mail@mybeach.com.au or telephone SLSWA on 9244 1222.

Most learn to swim programs teach the same principles, however, the methods and order in which particular skills and strokes are taught may vary. Similarly, different programs apply different standards of achievement to particular skills. For this reason, even programs that appear to be identically structured can produce different outcomes at specific points in the students’ development.

The Department has produced its own standards and outcomes framework, Swimming Teaching Handbook and Guidelines [PDF], which clearly lists the ‘must see’ outcomes for every skill listed on its Swimming and Water Safety Continuum [PDF]. These standards are frequently ‘points of difference’ between the Department’s and other programs.