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SWIMMING AND LIFESAVING
SwimVac
Build water confidence, strengthen swimming skills and learn how to stay safe with SwimVac—our school holiday swimming and water safety program for children of different ages and abilities.
The Royal Life Saving NSW SwimVac provides intensive swimming and water safety lessons during school holiday periods, helping children—particularly in regional, remote and disadvantaged communities—access essential skills that may otherwise be difficult to obtain.
Delivered by qualified swimming and water safety teachers, the program combines swimming development with practical water safety, survival and rescue skills. The Program aims to improve children’s swimming ability, water safety knowledge and confidence through accessible, intensive holiday programs that support safer participation in and around water. Our SwimVAC program for 2027 includes:
Daily intensive swimming lessons delivered over two weeks
Parent/Carer and Preschool classes (30 minutes)
School Age classes (45 minutes)
A nationally accredited Swimming and Water Safety Program suitable for children of all ability levels
Full alignment with the National Swimming and Water Safety Framework
Swim & Survive curriculum, lesson plans and certificates provided by Royal Life Saving
Access to parent support resources
Booking Options
Participants can choose to book:
One week only, or
The full two-week intensive program
Program Fees
Preschool Classes: $45 per week
School Age Program: $55 per week
Please note: Parent/Carer classes and advanced levels are not included in all locations.SwimVac gives children concentrated opportunities to practise and strengthen essential skills in a safe, supportive and enjoyable environment.
Builds confidence in the water
Develops swimming technique and endurance
Teaches personal survival skills
Improves water safety knowledge
Introduces basic rescue and emergency skills
Supports children at different ability levels
Reduces barriers to swimming education
Encourages safe, active participation
awards and pathways
SwimVac Levels
To assist with what level to place your child into please refer to the descriptions:
Little Wonders
Little Wonders introduces children aged six months to three years to the water through play, games and fundamental movement activities. With a parent or carer participating in the water, children build confidence, enjoyment and the elementary skills needed before progressing towards independent swimming lessons.
Children learn how to:
Enter and exit the water safely
Float on their front and back
Rotate and orientate their body in the water
Move using basic kicking and arm actions
Glide forwards through the water
Develop breathing-preparation skills
Submerge safely and confidently
Follow basic water-safety rules
Interact with their teacher and other children
Every child is encouraged to participate and progress at their own pace. Parents and carers provide essential reassurance, support and guidance, while qualified teachers adapt activities to each child’s ability and stage of development.
Pre School aged
The Preschool program helps children aged three to five build the strong foundation skills needed for future swimming development. Through independent participation and engaging activities, children develop confidence, mobility and fundamental movement skills while learning how to stay safer in and around the water.
Children learn how to:
Enter and exit the water safely
Float, recover and orientate their body independently
Glide and move using kicking and propulsion skills
Control their breathing in the water
Develop foundation swimming strokes
Submerge safely and confidently
Apply elementary survival skills
Follow important water-safety rules
Identify dangers and know how to get help
Children progress at their own pace in small classes designed to support safe, inclusive and enjoyable learning. Parents and carers can encourage progress from the sidelines, while a supported transition level is available for children who are not yet ready to participate independently.
School-Age Beginner
The School-Age Beginner program supports children aged five years and over who have little or no previous swimming experience. It is also suitable for children who are still developing confidence and require assistance with floating, movement and foundational swimming skills.
Children develop:
Confidence in and around the water
Safe entries and exits
Supported and independent floating
Breath control and submerging
Basic kicking and propulsion
Early swimming-stroke skills
Fundamental water-safety knowledge
Teachers introduce each skill gradually and provide support suited to the child’s confidence, experience and ability.
School-Age Intermediate
The School-Age Intermediate program is designed for children aged five years and over who are already confident in the water. Participants should be able to float independently and swim at least 10 metres continuously without flotation aids or physical assistance.
Children develop:
Greater swimming confidence and independence
Improved body position and breath control
Stronger kicking and propulsion
More effective swimming technique
Increased swimming distance and endurance
Personal survival skills
Water-safety knowledge
Lessons consolidate existing skills while helping children improve their technique, endurance and ability to participate safely and independently.
School-Age Advanced
The School-Age Advanced program is designed for confident and competent swimmers aged five years and over. Participants should be comfortable in deeper water and able to float, scull or tread water independently for one minute.
Children develop:
Freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke technique
Swimming across longer distances
Sculling and treading-water skills
Deep-water confidence
Personal survival strategies
Rescue and emergency-response awareness
Greater fitness and endurance
Participants should be able to swim at least 15 metres without assistance using recognised swimming strokes. Lessons extend their skills through more advanced swimming, survival and water-safety activities.