NSW Sport Minister highlights employment opportunities for hundreds of new accredited swim instructors

Hundreds of prospective swim teachers will be eligible for free instructor training to help meet demand of the NSW Government’s First Lap voucher program, aimed at pre-school water safety.

Advising that up to 750 more accredited swim instructors will receive training to support the program, NSW Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres today explained “whether you’re enjoying a splash at the local pool, heading to the beach or going for a dip in a river, it is important that children have the skills and confidence in and around water.”

The First Lap voucher program provides $100 vouchers to parents, guardians and carers of children aged 3-6 years who are not yet enrolled in school, or kindergarten children who missed out on swimming lessons due to the pandemic.   

Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association and AUSTSWIM have been offered a Smart and Skilled contract, joining Royal Life Saving Society of Australia (NSW) in delivering the new swim instructor places.

NSW Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said swimming is a life skill which is best taught in a child’s early years and the initiative will ensure children learn vital water safety education, noting “teaching kids to swim is a fun, rewarding and flexible career and with jobs in-demand now is the perfect time to start your journey in the aquatics industry.”

Royal Life Saving swim instructor Nora Moeke, who recently completed her free instructor-training course, after rethinking her corporate career during the pandemic, added “I wanted a more community-based career and this is an incredible opportunity for others wanting to take the plunge and become a swimming instructor.”

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Image courtesy of AUSTSWIM.