At Collegiate Pool, we offer a flexible swimming program tailored to your child's individual progress. There's no need to wait until the end of the term for advancement; students can move through to the next levels as soon as they confidently demonstrate their skills, typically after three successful practices. Our goal is to simplify the learning experience, allowing students to progress within their current class without needing to change teachers or lesson times.
Generally, it takes about four years for children starting at age 5 to become proficient swimmers, provided they attend all 20+ hours of instruction throughout the year consistently. Each term, a half-hour lesson equates to approximately six hours of instruction.
To help your child advance more quickly, we encourage you take them to the pool between lessons for additional play and practice. To assist with this process Collegiate Pool offers a lane for current learn to swim students to practice their skills from 11:00am to 11:45am on Sundays (commencing 9 November 2025).
If you are interested in starting your learn to swim journey, click here:
Or if you wish to find out more info you can submit an enquiry here:
Across Australia, more older primary and secondary students are reaching adolescence without essential swimming and water-safety skills. Royal Life Saving’s 2024 National Drowning Report recorded 323 drowning deaths in the previous year—16% above the 10-year average—reminding us why these skills matter for life.
What the latest research says
New national research from Royal Life Saving (RLS) shows a worrying skill gap as children move from primary to high school:
About half of Year 6 students are below the National Swimming and Water Safety Benchmark (can’t swim 50 m and tread water for two minutes).
Four in ten Year 10 students still can’t meet the Year 6 benchmark.
Lifesaving endurance is rare in mid-teens—around 84% of 15–16-year-olds can’t yet meet the age-17 standard (400 m continuous swim + 5-minute float/tread).
1 in 10 children (5–14) have never attended lessons. Many stop between ages 7–9, before they’ve cemented core survival skills.
These findings sit alongside Australia’s National Swimming and Water Safety Framework, which sets age benchmarks: by age 12, children should be able to swim 50 m and float/tread water for 2 minutes; by age 17, at least half of Australians should be able to swim 400 m and float/tread for 5 minutes, alongside rescue and survival competencies.
COVID-19 disruptions made the gap larger. RLS estimated Australian children missed ~10 million swimming lessons over the pandemic years, which has had a lingering effect on confidence and skills—especially for those who were just about to start or progress lessons.
It’s not “too late”—older beginners learn quickly with the right setting!
Older children and adolescents often progress faster than very young beginners because they can follow instructions, self-reflect, and practise purposefully. The keys are:
- A welcoming, age-appropriate group, so students don’t feel out of place among much younger children.
- Clear milestones that align with national benchmarks (50 m / 2 min survival at ~12; 400 m / 5 min survival by ~17).
- Consistent attendance, plus short bursts of holiday intensives or supervised practice, to lock in skills between lessons.
Our pathway for older beginners
A1 — 7 Years Plus (Water Familiarisation)
Who it’s for: Children 7 years and over who are new to lessons or returning after a long break and want to start in a class designed for their age.
How it runs:
Offered during our normal Learn-to-Swim program times, so families can book into familiar schedules.
Older students are grouped together, ensuring they aren’t placed with much younger children.
Focus:
Building water confidence: safe entries/exits, breath control, body position, submersion.
Foundations of floating and recovery (key survival skills) and short-distance propulsion.
Gentle, encouraging coaching that recognises older beginners may feel self-conscious in mixed-age groups.
Adolescent Beginners — Evenings (9 Years+)
Who it’s for: Ages 9 and over who are learning to swim and prefer a dedicated class outside our main Learn-to-Swim times. Ideal for students who feel uneasy joining younger groups, have sensory considerations, or just want a quieter pool environment.
How it runs:
Evening classes with peers of a similar age.
A supportive, low-pressure vibe that normalises being a beginner at any age.
Coaching that prioritises survival skills first, then builds into efficient freestyle and backstroke.
What to expect?
A judgement-free start: Your child won’t be the only older beginner. Lots of families are starting later, especially after the pandemic.
Evidence-aligned milestones: We design our lesson goals to align with the National Swimming and Water Safety Framework benchmarks—so your child’s progress maps to recognised national standards.
Visible progression: From confident submersion and floating → short propulsion → 25 m stamina and controlled breathing → 50 m continuous swim and 2-minute survival float/tread → (for teens) staged endurance to 200–400 m with stronger technique and water-safety scenarios.
Ready to start?
A1 — 7 Years Plus (Water Familiarisation): Runs during regular LTS times, perfect for 7–12 year-olds taking their first strokes.
Adolescent Beginners (9+): Evening classes for older learners who want a quieter, age-matched group outside normal LTS.
Click here to view availability and enrol:
References
Royal Life Saving Society – Australia (2024) National Drowning Report 2024. Available at: https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/research-and-policy/drowning-research/national-drowning-reports (Accessed: 8 September 2025).
Royal Life Saving Society – Australia (2025) From Primary to High School: A Generational Decline in Swimming Skills. Available at: https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/about/news-and-updates/news/2025/mar/decline-in-swimming-skills-puts-lives-at-risk (Accessed: 8 September 2025).
Royal Life Saving Society – Australia (2020) National Swimming & Water Safety Benchmarks. Available at: https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/about/news-and-updates/news/2020/aug/framework (Accessed: 8 September 2025).
ABC News (2023) Children missed ~10 million lessons during COVID-19. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-09/new-report-estimates-children-missed-10-million/101836614 (Accessed: 8 September 2025).
When people think about learning to swim, they often picture mastering strokes like freestyle or breaststroke. While those skills are important, one of the most underrated and lifesaving techniques is far simpler: the ability to float on your back.
Back floating isn’t just a step in the Learn to Swim journey—it’s a vital water safety skill that can save lives.
🌊 Why Back Floating Matters
- A Resting Position in the Water
Swimming can be tiring, especially for beginners or young children. If a swimmer gets too exhausted to continue, floating on the back allows them to rest, conserve energy, and regain control. It buys valuable time until they can swim again or call for help. - Breathing Made Easy
Unlike treading water or floating face-down, back floating keeps the mouth and nose clear of the surface, making breathing easier and more natural. For children, it also reduces panic since they don’t have to fight to keep their head above water. - Emergency Survival Tool
In unexpected situations—such as falling into water, being caught in a rip current, or becoming too tired during a swim—knowing how to roll onto the back and float can prevent drowning. It allows the swimmer to stay calm, breathe steadily, and signal for assistance.
🧒 Building Confidence Early
For children, learning to back float provides a huge confidence boost. Once they realise they can relax and breathe safely on their back, their fear of water often decreases. This confidence helps them progress more quickly in other swimming skills, as they know they have a safe “default position” to return to if they ever feel unsure.
🏊 How We Teach Back Floating
At our Learn to Swim program, back floating is taught through a simple progression designed to build trust and confidence:
- Step 1: Mushroom Floats – Swimmers start curled into a ball, feeling the water’s buoyancy and learning to trust it.
- Step 2: Assisted Back Floats – With the support of kickboards or noodles, swimmers practise lying back, relaxing, and breathing steadily.
- Step 3: Independent Back Floats – Gradually, swimmers float on their own, working on body position (ears in the water, hips up, arms relaxed).
- Step 4: Deep-Water Floating & Recovery – Finally, swimmers practise floating without aids in deeper water, learning how to roll from front to back and how to recover confidently from a float.
Through this progression, children learn that floating is not only possible—it’s comfortable, empowering, and potentially lifesaving.
💡 The Takeaway
Back floating may not look as impressive as butterfly or as fast as freestyle, but it is arguably one of the most important skills a swimmer will ever learn. It provides safety, confidence, and peace of mind—for both swimmers and parents.
At the heart of water safety is this simple truth: a swimmer who can float can survive.
This morning, our team discussion centred on the process of growth — both in sport and in life — using the playful analogy of a baby learning to run. In the discussion, a baby was placed on an oval, encouraged to run for a piece of chocolate as motivation. While it showed some signs of movement, it wasn’t ready to run just yet. Later, in a more suitable environment — a lush green field — the baby began to crawl, but still nowhere near running.
This highlighted an important truth: progress takes time, the right conditions, and patience. Development cannot be rushed, and every step is meaningful.
Insights from Our Coaches
Coach Sam, who spent 10 years on the Australian Swim Team under Rohan Taylor (current Head Coach of Swimming Australia), explained that even Olympic swimmers don’t train exclusively in 50m pools. Most of their work is done in 25m pools, with a few focused long course sessions each week dedicated to race-specific preparation and speed.
Coach Rachel shared her 20 years of experience coaching at the AIS during Swimming Australia camps, noting that most training was done in short course pools, with only late afternoon sessions reserved for long course. This reflects the broader philosophy of focusing on quality and efficiency over quantity or tradition.
The swimmers showed great curiosity, asking insightful questions about what it takes to reach the top level.
“I’ve been watching YouTube videos on swimming…”
Coaches welcomed this interest and encouraged swimmers to bring those videos to them, so they could fact-check and discuss how the content applies (or doesn’t) to each swimmer’s current stage of development.
“I’ve seen different training sessions online” or “I’ve seen swimmers lifting heavy weights”
Sam and Rachel reminded the group that every swimmer progresses differently, based on age, maturity, and understanding. They emphasised trusting in the program and explained the importance of building foundational movement and control before introducing strength training. Using yoga as an example, Sam demonstrated the range of movement required at the elite level, reinforcing that flexibility and control come first, then strength.
When appropriate, HC coaches will introduce a tailored strength and conditioning program — one that supports rather than compromises stroke technique or long-term development.
Swimming Success Starts Close to Home
It was noted that 21 swimmers currently on the Australian Men’s National Team are aged between 19 and 30. Over half grew up swimming in the southern states — including Kyle Chalmers, who still trains in Adelaide under Peter Bishop. This serves as a reminder that success is not limited to location — it’s shaped by commitment, consistency, and quality coaching.
The Power of Belief and Trust in the Process
The group also explored the mindset of a swimmer who, despite being two seconds behind on the final lap, still races to win. This is the kind of belief we want to foster — the trust that the training has prepared you, the drive to push through discomfort, and the confidence to stay in the fight even when the odds feel stacked.
When swimmers lose trust in the process, performance can be compromised. But when they believe in their journey, their training, and the support system around them, anything is possible.
Moving Forward Together
As our squad continues to evolve, Rachel and Sam remain committed to protecting the culture, integrity, and positivity that define our club. They will always encourage open questions and discussion, and they promise to answer with both evidence and experience.
Let’s continue to inspire our swimmers to take ownership of their journey, to ask questions, to trust the process — and to believe in their ability to achieve their personal best.
Thank you for your ongoing support as we grow stronger, together.
Coach Rachel and part of the Australian Coaching Team on 2016 at the AIS
Sam in action at the World Championships under a Victorian Swim Coach – Glen Baker
