Swimming Instructor
Teach people how to swim using an advanced understanding of swimming techniques and water safety.
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Jobs on SEEK right now
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Projected job growth in 5 years
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Typical salary
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What's it like to be a Swimming Instructor?
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.
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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.
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Swimming Instructors work in a range of settings such as public pools and aquatic centres, at holiday camps and in educational departments. They may also provide private tuition in residential homes.
How to become a Swimming Instructor
- Be at least 16 years of age with a reasonable level of fitness and swimming ability.
- Complete an accreditation course. This could be Swimming and Water Safety Teacher (SISSS00132). This course provides the base-level qualification required to become a Swimming Instructor.
- Additional requirements may apply depending on your state and/or employer. Swimming Instructors usually need a CPR certificate, Working with Children Check and first aid training.
- Consider advancing your skills and qualifications by completing extension courses, such as Teacher of Aquatics – Access and Inclusion.
- Renew your teaching accreditation periodically (typically every three years).
Latest Swimming Instructor jobs on SEEK
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Is Swimming Instructor the right role for me?
How do Swimming Instructors rate their role?
Average ratings calculated from 65 Swimming Instructors surveyed on SEEK.
Work-life balance
4.2
Job satisfaction
4.3
Career progression opportunities
3.4
Job security
3.8
Pay / Salary
3.5
Variety of work
3.5
Job market trends for Swimming Instructors
Location
Projected job growth
National increase over next 5 years
2021
2026
Source: National Skills Commission. Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials
Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK role reviews
Latest Swimming Instructor reviews
Latest reviews from 61 Swimming Instructors surveyed on SEEK.
All
Positive
Negative
May 2021
Swim Teaching is exhausting but rewarding
Experience
1 – 4 years
Organisation size
Medium (20-199 employees)
Specialisation
Swimming of Teacher and Water Safety
The good things
Swim Instructing is a very rewarding career in Australia given the ocean and beach culture. You not only teach people about water safety and stroke technique, but how to enjoy the water! Students can ...
The challenges
Swim Instructing can be extremely challenging in large classes. It can be difficult to accommodate for everyone's needs as the same time, and given the short duration of the class you don't always hav...
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Nov 2018
Swimming Instructors have a hard job but also need patience as every child learns differently
Reviewer's Qualification
Diploma of Business
Experience
5 – 9 years
Organisation size
Medium (20-199 employees)
Specialisation
Administration
The good things
I love my job as as a swimming instructor, I get to achieve a life saving skill to young children and give them a smile on their face when they have accomplished a skill.. best feeling ever..
The challenges
I have an amazing leader and is always giving us opportunities to learn in helping children with special needs so they have enjoyment also in learning to swim and survive
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Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Profile data