+ What is Swim School?
Our Swim School is a structured program that’s designed to teach babies, children and adults how to swim and to increase their water safety skills and water awareness.
Our dedicated team of qualified Swim Teachers provide the Hume Swim School Program, which is a comprehensive swimming initiative tailored to the Hume community.
Hume Swim School provides a broad, balanced program of swimming, water safety and survival skills and prepares people of all abilities for a lifetime of safe activity in, on or near the water. We also provide adult lessons, teen lessons, swim ability, private lessonas and programs for beginners to experienced swimmers.
+ What swimming lessons do you provide?
Our Swim School is made up of four categories for different age groups.
- Mini Explorers – water familiarisation for parents and their children aged 6-36 months.
- Little Discoverers – builds water confidence for preschool aged children between 3-5 years.
- Big Achievers – swimming and water safety program for school aged children 5-14 years.
- Adult and Teen – lessons and programs for beginners to experienced swimmers aged 15 and over.
+ When are lessons held?
Our swimming lessons are held over 40 weeks of the Victorian primary and secondary school year and run from 9am-11.30am and 4pm-7.30pm on weekdays and 8.30am-12.30pm on weekends.
As a general rule, infant and toddlers lessons are held between 9am-11.30am on both weekdays and weekends, while school aged classes are held from 4pm-7.30pm weekdays and 8.30am-12.30pm on weekends. Adult lessons are held during weekday mornings and weeknights.
Our Swim School lessons will start from Monday, 31 January 2022
+ What Swim School membership packages are available?
We offer a Swim and Play Membership,
which provides year-round access to our aquatic facilitites, with your lessons included.
+ What is included in the Swim and Play Membership and what does it cost?
Our Swim and Play Membership is convenient, packed with value and member bonuses and secures your place year round. Enjoy the convenience of automatic renewal, spread your payments over 24 fortnightly direct debits, and ensure your child doesn't lose their place by guaranteeing their enrolment each term. Swim and Play members receive:
- Up to 40 swimming lessons per year, held over the four Victorian primary and secondary school terms
- Unlimited year round pool access for your child and an accompanying adult
- One month of summer on us, with no payments during the month of January
- A Junior Swim Pack including a sling bag, drink bottle, junior goggles and other goodies valued at $30.00
- Free waterslides access for your child and an accompanying adult on your child’s birthday
- Free pool access for your child and one accompanying adult at Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre and Sunbury Aquatic and Leisure Centre year round.
Benefits of the Swim and Play membership:
- Online payments – Enrol and authorise your direct debit payments easily on the Splash website
- Guaranteed placement – Automatic renewal ensures you keep your spot in our program
- Convenient payments – Spread your payments over the year, with fortnightly direct debits from your debit or credit card
- No lock in terms – Cancel at any time by providing two weeks’ notice in writing
- Family discounts – For families enrolling more than one child.
Ongoing fees (24 fortnights a year)
| 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children | 4 Children |
| $30.85/fortnight | $57.40/fortnight | $82.35/fortnight | $104.80/fortnight |
+ How long do lessons go for?
Our lessons go for 30 minutes.
+ Are lessons held on public holidays?
No, our lessons
are not held on public holidays. There may be instances during the year when
your lesson falls on a public holiday. We do not provide make-up lessons, but Swim
and Play members can access the centre on public holidays. Please refer to our
website for specific public holiday hours.
+ How do I apply for Swim School?
+ What's involved in the online application?
Go to splash.hume.vic.gov.au/swim-school
You will then be required to provide us with a range of information in your application, including:
- How many children you wish to enrol
- The age of your child/children
- What level of swimming experience they have, if any
- If they are currently enrolled in swim school at a Hume City Council leisure centre and their membership number (found on the back of their membership card)
- If they are currently enrolled in a non-Council swim school, whether they can provide any examples of their experiences, such as certificates of completion
- Your first and second preferences for a class day and time
Once the online application is complete, your child may be required to undertake an in-pool assessment to determine which class they are most suitable for.
+ How are you prioritising applications?
Completion of the online application and assessment does not guarantee your children will be enrolled but the priority of completed applications will be purely based on a ‘first-in, best-dressed’.
+ What qualifications do your Swim Teachers have?
Our teachers hold an AustSwim - or equivalent qualification - CPR, AND Level 2 First Aid certificate.
All teachers have a current Working with Children Check.
+ Can you be too old to learn how to swim?
No, it's never too late to learn how to swim.
+ Do I have to stay and watch my child during their lesson?
Yes, parents and guardians must actively supervise their child during their lesson.
Children under 10 years old:
- Must be accompanied into the centre by a responsible parent / guardian
- Must be constantly and actively supervised
- Parents and guardians must have a clear view of their child at all times.
Children under 5 years old:
- Must be accompanied into the centre by a responsible parent / guardian
- Must be constantly and actively supervised during recreational play within arms reach
Children over 10 years old:
- For children 10 years and older, parents must use their knowledge of the child’s swimming ability and general development to determine the level of accompaniment required.
For students aged between 10 and 13, a parent or guardian must remain in centre during their lesson.
+ Once we’re enrolled, can we change our day and time?
We’re expecting
a high demand for places in our Swim School. Once you’re enrolled, it may be
some time before you can change the day and time of your swimming lesson. If
your circumstances change, please contact us to see if an alternative lesson
day and time are available. But we can’t guarantee it.
+ I have more than one child, will their classes be on the same day and time?
We try to enrol
families with more than one child as close together as possible, but can’t
guarantee that your children’s lessons will be held on the same day and time.
Our classes are structured to accommodate the hours of the day, the age of the
children and other commitments such as school.
+ I can’t make my lesson, what should I do?
We understand
that things come up from time to time, which may prevent you from attending
your lesson. If you can’t make it, you don’t need to tell us in advance. We’ll
see you next time.
+ What time should I arrive for my lesson?
As we run to a strict timetable, please arrive 10 minutes before your lesson.
+ What should I bring to my lesson?
Well-fitting bathers (one piece preferable), goggles, towel and a swimming cap is optional but encouraged.
Long hair must be tied back. All learn to swim equipment is provided eg. noodles and kickboards.
For reasons of public health, parents should ensure that:
- Children taking part in baby classes wear an aqua nappy at all times while in the pools. These are available for sale at reception.
- Children of any age who are not toilet trained should wear an aqua nappy while swimming.
- Any swimmer who has recently had diarrhoea or gastro should not attend swimming classes or use the pools for at least 14 days after symptoms have stopped.
- If your child has a cough or cold, you should let them recover fully before resuming classes.
+ Does my child need googles and a swim cap?
In the early stages, goggles are not necessary but as they start to put their faces in the water, goggles enable them to see under the water and protect their eyes. In terms of a swim cap if your child has long hair, please ensure it is tied back and out of the face.
+ I am running late for my lesson, will you wait for me?
Our lessons run
to a strict timetable and due to the high number of people enrolled we need to
start on time. We unfortunately cannot wait if you’re running late. We
encourage you to be at our centre at least 10 minutes prior to your lesson.
+ I have missed a lesson, can I do a make-up lesson?
Due to the high demand for places at Splash, we do not provide make-up lessons in our Swim School. If you have paid for your Swimming Lessons only up front, we will provide you with a Family Swim Pass.
+ Can I suspend my lessons if I am unwell or injured?
If you’re unwell or have suffered an injury that prevents you from attending your swimming lessons, you may be eligible to have your lessons suspended until you’re well enough to return. We will only suspend lessons for medical reasons if you provide us with a medical certificate from an approved medical practitioner, that grants you absence for a minimum of two consecutive weeks.
+ I am going on holidays, can I suspend my lessons?
No. We do not
provide the option to suspend your swimming lessons, unless for approved
medical reasons.
+ Are there any pension or concession discounts?
No. As our Swim School program is already subsidised, we cannot provide any further discounts for pension or concession card holders.
+ Do you provide private lessons?
Not generally. We only provide private lessons in exceptional circumstances.
+ Will I always have the same teacher?
We try to keep our
students with same teacher, but this isn’t always possible, particularly as
your child progresses through the levels of our Swim School program. We have a set
program, so if a regular teacher is absent, the teacher covering will teach all
the skills necessary for that level. We find that at times a different teacher
can in fact be a good thing, as they are often able to provide different
teaching points to master a certain swimming skill.
+ How many students are in my lesson?
The maximum number of students in a lesson varies by age group and skill category of the swimmers.
As a general guide, the maximum number of students enrolled in each class is:
- Babies (months – 3yrs old): Maximum of 8 students per class
- Pre-school (3-5years old): Maximum of 4 students per class
- School aged (5-14 years): Maximum of 6 students per class
- Adults (15 and over): Maximum of 5 students per class.
+ How will I be informed of my child's progress?
Students are assessed by their teacher and our deck supervisors regularly. We’ll provide progress reports to you in a number of ways, including email updates and in person where appropriate.
We will advise you when your child has complete their level and what the next steps are.
If you ever have a question about your progress, please speak to your teacher or one of our Swim School Deck Supervisors.
+ My child has completed their level, will they receive a certificate?
Yes. You will receive a digital certificate via email as your child progresses through our Swim School.
+ Now that we have passed our level, will our day and time change?
It depends. Every child learns at their own pace. In some instances, children may progress through their level quicker than others, while other children may take longer to learn. Once your child has completed their level, we’ll advise you of next steps and what class times and days are available.
+ How long will it take for my child to learn how to swim?
How long is a piece of string? There is no set timeframe for a child to learn how to swim.
The key is to attend swimming lessons regularly. We’ll keep you updated as we go on your child’s progress.
