In our swimming programs we teach 16 stages of competence in pool or calm water environments. We also offer 15 stages of competence at surf centres.
The stages are in accordance with:
- the Department of Education Swimming and Water Safety Continuum – Pool (stages 1 to 9)
- Royal Life Saving Society personal survival (stages 10 to 12)
- Royal Life Saving Society rescue awards (stages 13 to 16)
- the Department of Education Swimming and Water Safety Continuum – Surf (stages 1 to 9)
- the Department of Education Swimming and Water Safety Surf awareness and survival (stages 10 to 15).
Age requirements
You can enrol your child if they will be:
- 5 years or more when they start the program
- less than 18 years on the final day of the program you selected.
You can enrol your child in stage 15 at surf centres if they are 12 years old or will turn 12 before the start of the program.
You can enrol your child in stage 16 (Bronze Medallion) at calm water and pool venues if they are 14 years old or will turn 14 in the same calendar year as the course.
Your child’s stage
You need to select a stage when you enrol your child. To find out what stage your child has achieved, refer to their most recent certificate or use the stages table to assess their skills. Enrol them in the one that best describes their ability.
If your child will complete interm swimming after VacSwim enrolments close, anticipate a pass in this program. Enrol them in the next stage for VacSwim.
You can change your child’s stage:
- in WAIVS at any time before enrolments close
- by attending your scheduled lesson on day one
- at the venue on the advertised late enrolment day (where available).
We review children on the first day of class to make sure they are in the appropriate stage.
Stage 15 classes at surf centres and stage 16 classes (Bronze Medallion) at calm water or pool venues are conducted over 2 consecutive lesson times.
Minimum requirements for swimming stages
| Stage | Title | Minimum requirements for children to enter this stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beginner | No minimum requirements. |
| 2 | Water discovery Surf discovery | Glide forward and glide backward and recover to a stand. |
| 3 | Preliminary | Swim 5 m freestyle. Glide backward, kick and recover to a stand. |
| 4 | Water intro awareness Surf intro awareness | Swim 10 m freestyle, face in water. Swim 5 m breaststroke kick. |
| 5 | Water sense | Swim 15 m freestyle, 10 m backstroke and 10 m survival backstroke. |
| 6 | Junior | Swim 25 m freestyle plus 15 m breaststroke or 15 m survival backstroke. |
| 7 | Intermediate | Swim 50 m freestyle, or freestyle and one other stroke, continuously. |
| 8 | Water wise | Capacity to swim effectively using a range of strokes over 150 m. |
| 9 | Senior | Capacity to swim effectively using a range of strokes over 200 m. |
| 10 | Junior swim and survive | Effective swimming skills with a sound knowledge and understanding of water safety. |
| 11 | Swim and survive Surf stage 11 | Effective swimming skills with a developing knowledge and understanding of personal safety and survival skills. |
| 12 | Senior swim and survive Surf stage 12 | Effective swimming skills including the ability to complete a clothed swim and a sound understanding of personal safety and survival skills. |
| 13 | Wade rescue Surf stage 13 | Sound swimming and personal survival skills, knowledge and understanding. |
| 14 | Accompanied rescue Surf stage 14 | Sound swimming and personal survival skills, and knowledge plus an understanding of non–contact rescues. |
| 15 | Bronze star Surf stage 15 | Sound knowledge and practice of water safety and non–contact rescue skills. Effective swimming skills in a range of strokes. |
| 16 | Bronze medallion | Capacity to use initiative and conduct a contact rescue |
Royal Life Saving Western Australia waives the award fees for children who complete stages 13 to 16 through VacSwim or in-term swimming.
This helps to remove barriers to children participating in lifesaving awards. It also motivates them to strive to achieve their Bronze Medallion.
We are pleased to have Royal Life Saving Western Australia support our swimming and water safety programs.
Certificates
We can’t guarantee your child will achieve an entire stage when they participate in a program. Children progress at different rates and need to practise their skills.
At the end of a program, children in stages 1 to 9 receive a certificate that indicates:
- the skills they achieved
- if they completed a stage.
Children in stages 10 to 16 receive either a Royal Life Saving or surf certificate.
Contact us
For any queries about swimming stages, call us on 9402 6412 or email vacswim@education.wa.edu.au.
