RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY
Royal Life saving unifies drowning prevention efforts through research, advocacy and stakeholder collaboration
EDUCATION
Royal Life saving provides water safety education for the community, to ensure everyone knows how to participate safely around water.
SWIM TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS
Royal Life Saving supports swim teachers and schools with training, resources, and national standards to deliver safe, effective, and inclusive aquatic education.
LEARN TO SWIM
Royal Life Saving’s Learn to Swim programs build vital water safety and swimming skills that help prevent drowning and support lifelong confidence in the water.
Workforce development
Royal Life Saving brings stakeholders together to unify efforts, share expertise and deliver impactful solutions.
COURSES
Royal Life Saving offers a wide range of training courses suitable for community members and all levels of aquatic industry professionals.
LIFESAVING PROGRAMS
Royal Life Saving’s programs build rescue and resuscitation skills to help individuals respond confidently in aquatic emergencies.
LIFESAVING SPORT
Royal Life Saving offers members the opportunity to participate in Pool Lifesaving Sport at all skill levels.
ROYAL LIFE SAVING
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SISSS00132 - Swimming and Water Safety Teacher
Swim Teacher
Become a nationally recognised Swim Teacher with this blended course that combines online learning, practical training, and workplace experience. Gain the skills to teach swimming and water safety to children and adults, supported by licensing, insurance, and workplace supervision requirements.
The Royal Life Saving Swim Teacher course is a nationally recognised program that provides candidates with the competencies to teach swimming and water safety to children aged 3–12 years. Accreditation is valid for three years and covers both practical teaching skills and emergency response. The course also includes training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in line with the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) Guidelines.
Please note: Royal Life Saving NSW is not a CRICOS provider and cannot deliver nationally recognised training to overseas students holding a student visa.
Key content includes:
Planning and delivering engaging swimming lessons
Teaching water familiarisation, buoyancy, mobility, and swimming strokes
Promoting water safety and survival skills for children
Performing water rescues in aquatic environments
Applying CPR and emergency procedures in line with ARC guidelines
This course is designed for individuals seeking to start a career in swim teaching, as well as aquatic professionals who want to gain nationally recognised teaching credentials. It is also suitable for those looking to work in schools, community swim programs, or aquatic facilities delivering learn-to-swim programs.
The course takes approximately 32 hours, comprising:
9 hours of online learning and assessment
8 hours of face-to-face supervised instruction
12 hours of logged training hours (signed off by an Approved Workplace Supervisor)
3 hours of workplace assessment
There are no formal prerequisites to enrol. However, candidates must:
Possess proficient swimming skills, including survival strokes such as lifesaving backstroke and sidestroke.
Be physically capable of performing CPR and practical scenarios that may require kneeling on the floor.
Complete all components of the CPR assessment to achieve HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Minimum age: 16 years, or turning 16 during the calendar year of the course. Candidates cannot be issued a Swim Teacher Licence until they are at least 16.
- Assessment occurs across three stages: Online Pre-Course Learning – Candidates complete the Swim Teacher online modules before attending the face-to-face workshop. Face-to-Face Practical Course – A one-day practical course where candidates demonstrate teaching and rescue skills. Post-Course Workbook – Completed under the supervision of an Approved Workplace Supervisor, covering lesson delivery and workplace practice. Supervisors are responsible for submitting this workbook to Royal Life Saving for final approval. Candidates who complete all components successfully will receive their full Statement of Attainment.
On successful completion of this course you will be issued a Statement of Attainment in:
SISCAQU020 – Perform water rescues
SISCAQU023 – Plan swimming lessons
SISCAQU024 – Teach water familiarisation, buoyancy and mobility skills
SISCAQU025 – Teach water safety and survival skills
SISCAQU026 – Teach swimming strokes
HLTAID009 – Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation
These units form the SISSS00132 Swimming and Water Safety Teacher Skill Set and provide credit towards SIS30122 Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation.
The Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace and the Australian Resuscitation Council recommend that first aid skills are renewed every three years, and resuscitation skills (HLTAID009/HLTAID015) are renewed every 12 months. The Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations (GSPO) also recommend that the Swim Teacher Skill Set is renewed every three years. Please also refer to specific industry standards and guidelines.
Course Calendar
There are currently no scheduled courses for
Swim Teacher
“Thanks for your interest in our courses. While we don’t currently have sessions scheduled, we are planning our next round soon. If you’d like, we can add you to our priority list so you’ll be the first to know when new dates open.”