The people behind every lesson
Many of the instructors on our pool decks first learned to swim here as babies. Fifty-three of them grew up in the program and came back to teach the next generation. This is the team you are trusting with your child.
You see a young instructor. Here is what you do not see.
It is a fair thought. A parent watches a young face on the pool deck and wonders whether their child is in expert hands. What that first glance misses is everything behind the badge: the training, the qualifications and the years many of these instructors have already spent in the water.
So here is the whole picture.
What it takes to teach here
Before an instructor takes their first lesson, they complete our full Boot Camp. Every one of them holds the nationally recognised qualification, renews their CPR every year, and keeps training every term they teach. This is the standard, and it does not bend for anyone.
Nationally recognised qualification
Every instructor holds the national Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety qualification.
40 to 50 hour Boot Camp
Completed in full before an instructor ever teaches your child, ex-students included.
Dojo certification
An internal training program every instructor works through, the Aquatots way.
CPR renewed every year
Compulsory for every team member, and Aquatots funds the session in-house.
Training every term
Professional development four times a year, hosted in-house and paid for by Aquatots.
Babies and additional-needs trained
Instructors carry specialist credentials for our baby program and swimmers with disabilities.
A Canberra family, on the deck since 2002
Aquatots is run by the family that built it. Debbie founded the school and still walks the deck watching lesson quality. Alena, her daughter, leads it today and speaks on water safety around the world. Dan coaches on the pool edge. Together, they still teach in the water, because that is how you keep the standard where it should be.
Trusted by Canberra families
Since 2002
More than two decades teaching Canberra to swim
Four centres
Forde, Gold Creek, Googong and Black Mountain
53 instructors
Grew up in the program and came back to teach
96% full
Across our four centres
Come and meet us
The best way to know a team is to meet them. Book a free information session and see how we teach, no pressure and no cost.
