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School-age swimming lessons with the Y teach stroke and skill development, water safety, and personal survival. We also focus on physical, intellectual and personal development.

In the school-age program, we teach your child swimming, water safety and basic rescue and survival skills that can save lives. Your child will establish a lifelong appreciation for safe activity in the water and learn vital survival skills not just for the pool, but for rivers, lakes and the ocean. They'll also be introduced to skills that will build their foundational skills in aquatic sport.

Children will learn to:

  • develop and refine their swimming strokes;
  • cooperate with and respect others in an aquatic environment;
  • make safe and sensible decisions and solve problems in and around water;
  • challenge themselves to build endurance and strength for the sport of swimming.

Our swimming teachers

All of our teachers hold nationally accredited swimming teacher and water safety certificates. They have current CPR certificates, Working with Children Checks and have training in safeguarding children and young people.

School-age swimming levels

Your child will progress through the program levels based on their ability, which is assessed by our swimming teachers and program supervisors. Below is an overview of some of the skills your child will learn in each level.

Squad training and performance programs

We offer squad programs for confident swimmers who have progressed past Tuna level. These programs will vary, however may include Fitness Squads and Club Development Squads.

Fitness Squad is ideal for children who want to continue training for fitness, while Club Development Squad is perfect for those who want to transition into competitive swimming.


Fitness Squad

Class size: eight to 10 students

  • For confident swimmers who want to swim in a fun, non-competitive session
  • Continues to improve swimming technique
  • Continues to improve endurance and fitness
  • Students must have completed Shark level to transition into this squad 

Club Development Squad

Class size: eight to 10 students

  • For confident swimmers who want to transition into a Swim Club program
  • Continues to improve swimming technique, including stroke refinement
  • Focuses on increased endurance and speed
  • Prepares students for competitive swimming by teaching sprints, starts, turns and finishes, as well as competition rules

Other aquatic programs

AquaGuards

We also offer the AquaGuard program at select Active Merri-bek locations. This program is for students who are already competent swimmers and want to take part in a fun and active aquatic program focused on water safety and lifeguarding skills.

AquaGuards is a great way to stay involved in aquatics and swimming if you aren't keen on getting involved in competitive swimming. The program also offers personal development opportunities to become a Swim Teacher or Lifeguard.

The weekly one-hour program includes 30 minutes focused on swim fitness and 30 minutes focused on water safety skills.

  • Prices

    Please see the current prices for school-age swimming lessons below.

    Level Fortnightly direct debit
    Swimming lesson (child / adult) $41.20
    Swimming lesson (concession) $30.90
    Inclusion swimming lesson (special needs) $46.75
    Private swimming lesson $103.60
    Advanced programming (Club Development) $51.00

    Payment for our swimming lesson membership is taken fortnightly by direct debit, with the total cost spread out across the year with 26 equal payments (or seasonally for Oak Park members). This minimises the cost impact to families and ensures your membership is easy to maintain.

    No lock-in contracts – simply provide 14 days' written notice to cancel.

    We review our prices each year.


  • What benefits do swimming lessons members receive?

    Swimming lessons members will benefit from one 30 minute class each week. 

    At Brunswick Baths, Coburg Leisure Centre and Fawkner Leisure Centre, there are 48 lessons programmed across the year.

    All swimming lessons members enjoy:

    • scheduled program breaks over Easter and Christmas;
    • access to eight make-up lessons per calendar year;
    • one free holiday program with each 12 month membership;
    • free access to the pool facilities at Brunswick Baths, Coburg Leisure Centre and Fawkner Leisure Centre, along with the seasonal pools at Oak Park Sports and Aquatic Centre, Coburg Olympic Pool and Pascoe Vale Outdoor Pool;
    • a suspension option for Ramadan or summer break, which you can choose;
    • 10% discount on merchandise.

  • What should I bring to school-age swimming lessons?
    • Swimwear for your child
    • Towel
    • Goggles (highly recommended, but not essential)
    • Swimming cap (optional)
    • Warm, dry clothes for after class
  • What are your safety requirements?

    To provide a safe environment for your child, parents / carers must:

    • come to the edge of the pool at the start of the lesson and directly hand over your child to the teacher;
    • be present and visible on the pool deck at all times (if your child is under the age of 10);
    • come to the edge of the pool at the end of the lesson and collect your child;
    • only take photos in the pool area with prior arrangement (never in the changing room area);
    • follow the Watch Around Water policy for active child supervision at all times. 
  • Are school-age swimming lessons accessible for all?

    Yes. If a group setting is not an appropriate learning environment for your child, we can develop swimming lessons on request to cater for children with varied needs. This may be in a small group setting or a 1:1 class, depending on the needs of the child.

How to enrol in swimming lessons with the Y

You can now enrol in swimming lessons online. For help with online enrolments please see our 'How to enrol in swimming lessons online' guide below.

Not ready to enrol online?

If you're not ready to enrol and would like to find out more about our swimming lessons, please submit a swimming lessons enquiry to your relevant centre: Brunswick Baths, Coburg Leisure CentreFawkner Leisure Centre or Oak Park Sports and Aquatic Centre. A member of our friendly team will be happy to answer your questions.

  • How to enrol in swimming lessons online

    To enrol your child or someone who you are a guardian for:

    1. Create a responsible person / guest account
      • Visit the online customer portal and select your chosen centre
      • Select 'Swimming Lessons'
      • Select 'Create Free Guest Account'
      • Select 'Next'
      • Complete your (the responsible parent / guardian) details
      • Select 'Create account'
      • Select 'Customer portal' to be taken to the swimming lessons timetable

    2. Add a student
      • You should be automatically directed to the swimming lessons timetable (if you cannot see the timetable select 'Book' and 'Swimming Lessons')
      • In the top right select the 'Add a student'
      • Complete the student details

    3. Determine your level (students must complete a level assessment to enrol in a day and time)
      • Select the 'Swimming Lessons' category to start the self-assessment
      • Answer questions
      • Your level will be assigned
      • Select 'Next' to receive confirmation that you student account has been created
      • Select 'Select day and time' to be taken to the swimming lessons timetable for your allocated level

    4. Enrol into your class day and time
      • Search and select your class day and time (these will be filtered to your allocated level)
      • Select 'enrol now'
      • In the pop-up window, select 'enrol now' for the student you wish to enrol in this class

    5. Make payment
      • Select your payment plan
      • Complete the agreement of terms and conditions
      • Select your preferred payment method (bank details or credit card / debit card) for your contract and select 'Next'

    Payment methods

    Please note, the details you enter will be linked to your contract for all future payments. You can change your payment details in the future using your online customer portal.

    Bank details

    • Enter your bank details
    • You will be taken to the payment gateway to make your initial payment which will need to be made by a credit / debit card
    • Make payment

    Credit / debit card

    • Enter your credit / debit card details
    • Make payment
    • Contract confirmation

    You will receive an email confirming that you are now a member with your contract attached.

    Visit us to collect your membership access card and ask us any questions you may have.

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