There are YMCA aquatic education programs specially designed for children from the age of six months and over. Our programs are high quality and affordable.
Children will learn water safety and swimming skills, depending on their age and abilities, in a fun, safe and educational small group environment.
Each year tens of thousands of children take part in YMCA aquatic education programs, as listed.AquaSafe Aquatic Education Program – a progressive program focusing on water safety, personal survival skills and stroke development in two main age groups

• AquaSafe for infants and preschoolers: Includes water familiarisation and aquatic education for both parents and children. 
• AquaSafe for children 5–12 years:A progressive seven module program offering personal development, water safety, stroke development and activities in simulated open water environments.
• Y Splash – a water safety and skill development program over five lessons in the school holidays for children aged 5-12 years.

What makes the Y’s aquatic programs for children unique?

Our aquatic education programs are about much more than just learning to swim. They aim to:

• Develop personal skills as well as water safety and stroke development (swimming) skills.
• Provide opportunities for students to build a healthy body, mind and spirit. 
• Provide participants with simulated experiences of open water environments (eg being caught in a rip or a current).

Programs

TODDLER LEVEL – all lessons are in the Indoor Pool

1. Shrimp - 6 months to 15 months- no requirement necessary.  Parents are required to be in the water with child.
2. Periwinkle - 15 months to 24 months- Age or ability based.  Parents are required to be in the water with child.  
3. Minnow - 2 years to 3.5 years- Age or ability based.  Parents are required to be in the water with child.  
4. Starfish - 2 years to 3.5 years- no requirement necessary.  Parents are required to be in the water with child. 

PRESCHOOL LEVEL (attending preschool)- all lessons in the Indoor Pool

1. Tadpole - No previous experience, uncomfortable with face in water, can’t back float.
2. Goldfish - Completely submerge and blow bubbles.  Paddle/Kick and blow bubbles for 5 meters without floatation aid
   float on back with aid.
3. Sardine - Confidently float on front and back unassisted.  Recognisable freestyle with strong leg action for 10 meters.  Confident kick on back for 5 meters with aid. 

PRIMARY LEVEL- (Children must be attending school) – held in Outdoor pool

1. Octopus - No previous experience, uncomfortable with face in water, cannot float on back.  Aided and /or assisted front and /or back float.  Aided Torpedo on front and /or back.
2. Salmon - Float unaided on front and back with confident recovery.  Swim Freestyle and backstroke unaided for 10 meters good body position, strong kick.
3. Tuna - Comfortably swim recognisable freestyle with strong leg action for 15 meters.  Comfortably swim recognisable backstroke with strong leg action for 15 meters.  Confidently and comfortably tread water for minimum 30 seconds.
4. Eel - Confidently swim 25 meters freestyle and backstroke with correct breathing action. Survival backstroke kick showing correct technique for 25 meters.
5. Flying Fish - Confidently swim 50 meters freestyle and backstroke with correct technique.  Confidently swim 25 meters survival backstroke and breaststroke with correct timing.  Confident in deep water.  Can perform an underwater deep water object retrieval.
6. Dolphin - Easily swim 75 meters freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and survival backstroke.Easily tread water for at least 3 minutes.  Swim underwater for a minimum of 10 meters.
7. Shark - Confidently and easily swim 100 meters, using correct stroke techniques of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and survival backstroke. 

PARENT INFORMATION

• CREDITS OR MAKE UPS:  Credits or makeup lessons will be granted when the YMCA is required to cancel a lesson (eg due to electrical storms). Credits or make-ups for other instances will not be given unless in extreme circumstances, such as prolonged illness.  In these cases the co-ordinator needs to be contacted in writing along with a medical certificate to explain the circumstances. 
• CHECKING IN:  Each student enrolled in the program will be issued with a swipe card. They are then required to register their attendance prior to the commencement of their activity.
• CHILDMINIDING: Our child minding facility is available for use during morning classes up to 11am. Children must be aged 6 weeks or over and have been immunised. See reception for more information.
• SUPERVISION: Regardless of the level reached by your children the YMCA recommends that all children are to be supervised by a guardian at all times while near or around water.
• SAFETY: The YMCA pools are shallow and we enforce a NO DIVING rule to the public.  Where necessary a teacher may include diving in a lesson, under supervision only.
• SWIMMING CAPS: All Schools, Squads and learn to swim participants are required to wear a swimming cap during their class.
• SWIMMING NAPPIES: Children who are not fully toilet trained are to wear a waterproof swimmer nappy whilst participating in learn to swim classes.
• POOL USE:  Siblings not involved in lessons but wanting to swim in the 25m pool must pay  pool entry (the indoor pool is not available for use for anyone other than those in lessons.)