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Swimmerz Academy will be taking part in
SwimSAFER Week 2026
Monday 16 to Sunday 22 November
At Swimmerz, water safety is at the heart of everything we do.
During SWIMSAFER Week, every class from Littlefish to Dolphins starts with real-life survival practice, so our swimmers know what to do if they ever end up in the water unexpectedly.
This year's national theme is SWIMSAFER Starts with Me.
This year we were proud to win the SWIMSAFER Commitment Award at the SWIMCON26 Awards. It recognises what our teachers do in every lesson: building confident, capable, safer swimmers.
So put on your brightest gear and help us spread the message.
Safer swimming starts with each of us.
Skills save lives
313 people drowned in Australian waterways in 2025/26
Drowning deaths in children under five are 39% below the 10-year average.
More than half of drowning deaths in children under five
10% above the 10-year average.
More than half of drowning deaths in children under five
Drowning deaths in children under five are 39% below the 10-year average.
More than half of drowning deaths in children under five
happened in backyard pools.
Drowning deaths in children under five are 39% below the 10-year average.
Drowning deaths in children under five are 39% below the 10-year average.
Drowning deaths in children under five are 39% below the 10-year average.
Pool fences, supervision and education are working. Let's keep it that way.
Be Brighter: come dressed for the water
Swimmers should come to their lesson in bright summer clothes over their bright swimmers. A T-shirt and shorts are perfect.
Why clothes? If a child falls in by accident, chances are they won't be wearing swimmers. Practising swimming in clothes shows them how heavy wet clothing feels, so it isn't a shock in a real emergency.
Why bright? Bright colours are easier to spot in and around the water.
What swimmers will practise
All Learn to Swim students from Littlefish through to Dolphins are encouraged to wear their bright clothing over their swimmers to class. Students will also swim without their goggles during the safety portion - because accidents don't wait until you're prepared. They'll still need their goggles for the remainder of the lesson.
LittleFish, Starfish, Clownfish, Bluefish, Eel, Seal & Seahorse
will spend the first 15 - 20 minutes of lesson time.
Bright clothes over swimmers, no goggles for this portion
Marlins & Dolphins
SwimSAFER will be the focus of the entire lesson time.
Bright clothes over swimmers, no goggles.
Private lesson families: if you have already noted your preference for SwimSAFER Week participation, we have that on your child's profile. If you'd prefer to opt out, please contact us so your child's instructor is aware.
What to bring
Bright Summer Clothes
Bright Summer Clothes
Bright Summer Clothes
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Worn over your swimmers. Any pyjamas welcome - the cosier the better!
Goggles
Bright Summer Clothes
Bright Summer Clothes
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Still needed for the second part of the lesson - don't leave them at home.
A waterproof bag
Bright Summer Clothes
A waterproof bag
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To take your wet c home at the end of the lesson.
SWIMSAFER Colouring Competition
Get creative and win a prize! Grab a colouring sheet from front reception, colour it in and hand it to the Front Desk by Sunday 22 November. Don't forget to write a contact number on the back.
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All Levels - Safety Chat
- Own safety first - never put yourself in danger to help someone else
- If a friend is in trouble: get help, or throw/reach to rescue if it's safe to do so
- Lifeguards, beach safety, and what the flags mean
- Always swim with an adult watching
- Water dangers: rips, rocks, branches, shallow and deep water
- Pool safety signs: no running, no diving, shallow water warnings
Littlefish, Starfish and Eel Classes
Our youngest swimmers will experience what it really feels like to move through the water in clothes. With lots of encouragement, they'll build the confidence to know they can help themselves if something unexpected happens.
- Experience swimming in clothes and feel how different it is to their usual swimmers
- Practise safe ways to get in and out of the pool
- Learn how to reach the pool wall if they fall in unexpectedly
- Practise rolling onto their back into a float and calling out for help
- Hold on to a buoyant aid to stay afloat
- (Starfish) Short swims of 2–3m in clothes, pushing off the bottom to reach the surface
- (Starfish) Float for 10–20 seconds, then flip and swim back to the wall
Clownfish and Eel Classes
Clownfish and Eel swimmers build on their foundational safety skills with longer swims in clothes, learning to keep moving and breathe even when things feel harder than usual.
- Swim 3–5m in clothes, both with and without a buoyant aid
- Swim 8m taking breaths as needed, and roll onto their back to rest when tired
- Practise safe entry and exit, and reaching to catch the wall
- Roll into a float and call out for help, floating for 20–30 seconds before flipping back to the wall
- Catch a buoyant aid in the water and swim back to safety with it
Bluefish and Seal Classes
At this level, swimmers are introduced to treading water and floating independently for longer - key skills for staying calm and safe if they ever find themselves in trouble.
- Swim 8–32m in clothes, with and without a buoyant aid
- Learn basic sculling and tread water for 30 seconds to stay afloat
- Float on their back independently for 1 minute
- Swim 5m, roll into a float for 30 seconds calling for help, then swim back to the wall
- Catch a buoyant aid in the water and swim back to safety with it
Seahorse Classes
Seahorse swimmers tackle longer distances in clothes and begin learning survival skills like reach rescue and survival backstroke - building real confidence for unexpected situations.
- Swim 16–64m in clothes, with and without a buoyant aid
- Tread water and scull for 1–2 minutes to stay afloat
- Float on their back independently for 1 minute
- Swim 12m, roll into a float for 30 seconds calling for help, then swim back to the wall
- Practise reach rescue — and learn how to be rescued safely with a noodle
- Begin learning survival backstroke as a lifesaving stroke
Marlin Classes
Marlin swimmers take on serious survival scenarios - learning what to do when they're exhausted, fully clothed, and far from the edge. These are the skills that could one day save a life.
- Swim 32–64m in clothes, rolling onto their back to rest when tired
- Learn survival strokes: survival backstroke, sidestroke, and survival breaststroke
- Float for 1 minute calling for help, scull and tread water for 1–2 minutes, then swim back
- Practise falling in, treading water, then safely removing heavy clothing before floating
- Surface dive to retrieve an object from deep water
- Practise different water entries: slide in, shallow dive, step in, and stride entry
Dolphin Classes
Our most advanced swimmers take on the full survival challenge - longer distances, more demanding scenarios, and a complete toolkit of lifesaving skills.
- Swim 50–100m in clothes, rolling onto their back to rest as needed
- Learn and demonstrate survival strokes: survival backstroke, sidestroke, and survival breaststroke
- Float for 2 minutes calling for help, scull and tread water for 2 minutes, then swim back
- Practise falling in, treading water, removing heavy clothing, floating 1 minute, then swimming 2 minutes continuously
- Surface dive to retrieve an object from deep water
- Practise and demonstrate all major water entries
SWIMSAFER 365: five habits for summer
- Keep up lessons. Swimming skills fade fast over a long break. Lessons build them, and practice keeps them.
- Watch, don't glance. Actively supervise children around water, every time. Keep little ones within arm's reach.
- Check the gate. Make sure your pool fence and gate close and latch properly, and never prop the gate open.
- Read the conditions. At the beach, swim between the red and yellow flags. At rivers and lakes, check depth, current and hidden hazards before anyone gets in.
- Know what to do. Learn CPR (DRSABCD) and keep your skills current.