Lessons for Children

About UWA Learn to Swim

The UWA Aquatic Centre is one of the best learn-to-swim environments with families being able to enjoy an enclosed 25 metre pool and warm 28-degree water temperature all year round. The supportive environment aims to nurture young swimmers, with opportunity to progress through our recreational pathways, or to transition to our affiliated clubs such as the UWA West Coast Swimming Club, UWA Water Polo Club or UWA Triathlon Club.

Our highly qualified instructors are passionate about providing the best experience for each child in the pool, from water safety skills to the perfection of swim strokes. The UWA Aquatic Centre is a recognised industry leader in providing swimming programs, and every week we see more than 1000 children from three years old upwards improve their skills and confidence in the pool. Initial emphasis is placed on developing confidence and effective movement in the water, later progressing to the swimming essentials of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and dive starts.

An instructor smiles and gives their student a high five while in the water.

Our daughter has become a very competent swimmer who did very well in her most recent school swimming carnival.

Learn to Swim Parent

Current programs

Term 1 2023
Monday 30 January - Thursday 6 April

Every week, swimmers will focus on a different stroke, working on specific aspects of each stroke as well as deep water and diving skills. Our structured teaching methodology ensures that the foundations of each stroke are mastered before progressing to more advanced skills.

Lesson Times
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 3:30pm-6pm
- Tuesdays: 3pm-6pm
- Saturday: 8am-12pm
- Sunday: 9am-12pm
- No lessons will be held on Monday 6 March, Friday 7 April, Saturday 8 April or Sunday 9 April
Cost
- Weekday lessons are charged at a rate of $25 per lesson. This equates to $225 for a 9-week term (Mondays or Fridays) or $250 for a 10-week term (Tuesday-Thursday)
- Weekend lessons are charged at a rate of $27.50 per lesson. This equates to $247.50 for the 9-week term.
- Private lessons are available at a rate of $51 per lesson on weekdays, and $56.10 per lesson on weekends. To enrol in private lessons, contact our Aquatics team on +61 8 6488 2277 or aquatics@sport.uwa.edu.au.
Enrol in a second weekly session and receive 10% off.

All students require a swimming cap, goggles and fitted racing bathers to participate in lessons.
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Parent and Toddler Lessons
Tuesday 31 January - Thursday 6 April

Children will be introduced to introductory movement, floatation, water safety, submersion and breath control skills, assisted by instructors and parents in a comfortable and supportive environment.

This program is for children aged 2-4 years who would benefit from having a parent in the water with them. All levels of swimming ability are welcome, from no prior experience through to children who are confident in the water.

Swimmers should wear a fitted swimming nappy under their swimsuit. This applies to all children under the age of 3 as well as children over the age of 3 who are not fully toilet trained (including at night time). Contact our staff for more information about swimming nappies.

Lesson Times
- Tuesdays 3pm
- Thursdays 3:30pm
- Saturdays 9am or 10am
- Sundays 10am or 11am
- No lessons will be held on Saturday 8 April or Sunday 9 April
Cost
- Weekday lessons are charged at a rate of $22.50 per lesson
- Weekend lessons are charged at a rate of $25 per lesson
Booking and program enquiries can be directed to the Aquatics team on +61 8 6488 2277 or aquatics@sport.uwa.edu.au
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Enrol now

Upcoming programs

April Intensive Holiday Lessons
Tuesday 11 April - Friday 14 April

Accelerate your child's swimming progress by continuing your swimming routine through the school holidays! Holiday Intensive lessons focus on a different stroke every day, working on refining your child's abilities in the four core strokes as well as deep water and diving skills. Holiday Intensive lessons can deliver 10 weeks' worth of swimming in just 10 days, and are perfect for busy families who have many commitments during the school term.
- Week 1: Tuesday 11 April - Friday 14 April (4 days)
- Week 2: Monday 17 April - Friday 21 April
Lesson Times
- Lessons are held at 7:45am, 8:15am, 8:45am, 9:15am, 10:00am, and 10:30 am daily
Cost
- Lessonss are charged at a rate of $25 per lesson. This equates to $100 for a 4-day week, or $125 for a 5-day week.
- Private lessons are available at a rate of $51 per lesson.To enrol in private lessons, contact our Aquatics team on +61 8 6488 2277 or aquatics@sport.uwa.edu.au.
All students require a swimming cap, goggles and fitted racing bathers to participate in lessons.
Term 2 2023
Monday 24 April - Sunday 2 July

Every week, swimmers will focus on a different stroke, working on specific aspects of each stroke as well as deep water and diving skills. Our structured teaching methodology ensures that the foundations of each stroke are mastered before progressing to more advanced skills.

Lesson Times
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 3:30pm-6pm
- Tuesdays: 3pm-6pm
- Saturday: 7:45am, 8:15am, 8:45am, 9:15am, 10am, 10:30am, 11am, 11:30am
- Sunday: 8:45am, 9:15am, 10am, 10:30am, 11am, 11:30am
- No lessons will be held on Tuesday 25 April or Monday 5 June
- Private lessons are available upon request. Contact our Aquatics team via email or on 6488 2277 for more information.
Cost
- Weekday lessons are charged at a rate of $25 per lesson. This equates to $225 for a 9-week term (Mondays or Tuesday) or $250 for a 10-week term (Wednesday-Friday)
- Weekend lessons are charged at a rate of $27.50 per lesson. This equates to $275 for the 10-week term.
- Private lessons are available at a rate of $51 per lesson on weekdays, and $56.10 per lesson on weekends. To enrol in private lessons, contact our Aquatics team on +61 8 6488 2277 or aquatics@sport.uwa.edu.au.
Enrol in a second weekly session and receive 10% off.

All students require a swimming cap, goggles and fitted racing bathers to participate in lessons.
Parent and Toddler Lessons
Monday 24 April - Sunday 2 July

Children will be introduced to introductory movement, floatation, water safety, submersion and breath control skills, assisted by instructors and parents in a comfortable and supportive environment.

This program is for children aged 2-4 years who would benefit from having a parent in the water with them. All levels of swimming ability are welcome, from no prior experience through to children who are confident in the water.

Swimmers should wear a fitted swimming nappy under their swimsuit. This applies to all children under the age of 3 as well as children over the age of 3 who are not fully toilet trained (including at night time). Contact our staff for more information about swimming nappies.

Lesson Times
- Saturdays and Sundays 10am
Cost
- Lessons are charged at a rate of $25 per lesson
Booking and program enquiries can be directed to the Aquatics team on +61 8 6488 2277 or aquatics@sport.uwa.edu.au

Enrol now

Book your free assessment

All children who are new to the program or who haven't swum for some time will need to book a swimming assessment to determine their levels in the UWA Learn to Swim program. This will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes for each child.

Assessments can be organised at the UWA Aquatic Centre and are free of charge.
Please call 6488 2277 or email aquatics@sport.uwa.edu.au to arrange your assessment today.

Our levels

Introduction (Parent and Toddler)

For children aged 2-4 years who would benefit from having a parent in the water with them. All levels of swimming ability are welcome, from no prior experience through to children who are confident in the water. Swimmers will be introduced to introductory movement, floatation, water safety, submersion and breath control skills, assisted by instructors and parents in a comfortable and supportive environment.
Entry (E)

For children who have never learned to swim before or who are nervous or reluctant to enter the water. Swimmers learn the basics of water confidence such as entry and exit, movement around the pool, blowing bubbles, submerging and floating. A significant amount of teaching is done through play, with the teacher in the water.
Beginner Confident Water (BCW)

Swimmers develop floating, bubbles, breathing, body position and kicking over distances of 5–7 metres, with a teacher in the water.
Beginner Confident (BC)

Swimmers will become proficient at bubbles, breathing, and kicking on their front and back over distances of 7–12.5 metres. Swimmers also begin to learn freestyle technique.
Beginner Progressed (BP)

Swimmers learn to perform formal freestyle and backstroke with the use of flotation aids and flippers to help maintain an efficient body position.
Super Beginner Progressed (SBP)

Swimmers refine their freestyle and backstrokes, developing technique and control to swim 12.5 metres unaided.
Progressed (P)

Swimmers further refine their freestyle and backstroke without the use of flotation aids. Swimmers learn to breathe to their non-preferred side in freestyle. Swimmers also begin learning the breaststroke kick.
Progressed Advanced (PA)

Swimmers continue to develop stroke technique across freestyle and backstroke, including a continuous arm recovery in backstroke, and a bent arm recovery in freestyle. Swimmers also learn to perform breaststroke.
Advanced (A)

Swimmers begin to develop competitive strokes, including multiple 25 metre lengths of freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke. Swimmers also learn tumble turns, butterfly kick, and racing dives.
Pre Squad

Swimmers learn introductory squad swimming skills such as turns, how to read the pace clock, rules and etiquette of squad training, and continue to refine the four competitive strokes, including learning butterfly over 12-25m. With a strong focus on maintaining technique in addition to increasing fitness, this introductory squad aims to provide swimmers with a sound basis in skills for either a competitive or recreational swimming pathway with UWA or its affiliated aquatic clubs.
Older Swimmer Stream (OS)

All children can participate in our Learn to Swim program, regardless of age. For those children who have started swimming later in life, or have taken a little longer to progress, the Older Swimmer and Older Swimmer Teenager streams group them with similar-age as well as similar-ability peers.