Frequently asked questions

Learning how to swim will provide you with the ability to survive in water. You never know when there is a time where you will be around water, and swimming will end up saving your life.

Drowning is the fourth leading cause of death for children aged 1–4 years and the third leading cause of death for children aged 5–14 years. Over the 2024-25 summer, there were 104 drowning deaths in Australia - up 5% from last season - with lack of swimming skills the leading cause.

Nearly half of Year 6 students cannot swim 50 metres or tread water for two minutes, and 84% of 15/16-year-olds fall short of basic lifesaving standards. With 1 in 10 children aged 5-14 never having had swim lessons and almost a third of schools not offering learn-to-swim programs, it’s clear that formal swimming education is essential. Research shows that the ages of 7-9 are critical for building the complex skills that keep children safe in and around water for life.

Royal Life Saving

Yes, 30 minutes of swimming every day is more than enough to see benefits for your cardiovascular health, boost muscle, and improve brain health, especially if you're new to swimming.

Studies show, formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning for children aged one to four by 88%.

University of Tasmania

Swimming is a fun, full-body exercise that helps children stay strong, healthy, and active. It improves heart and lung health, builds muscles, and increases flexibility. Swimming also boosts mental health by releasing natural endorphins, helping kids feel happier and less stressed. By increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain, it can improve alertness and memory. Plus, swimming can be a social activity, as it lets children stay active while making friends and learning teamwork.

Health Direct

The earlier, the better! Introducing children to the water at a young age doesn’t cause harm - in fact, it helps them become more familiar and comfortable in the pool. Early exposure builds confidence, develops basic water skills, and lays the foundation for future swimming lessons. Even simple play and gentle guidance in the water can make children feel safe, supported, and excited about learning to swim as they grow.

For Learn to Swim, the standard is usually one lesson per week. Occasionally doubling up to make up classes is perfectly fine and won’t overwhelm your child! You can enrol in as many paid lessons as you like each week, but for younger swimmers, too many can sometimes be a bit much.

SwimFit kids, being older, can attend as many lessons as they like each week, usually without feeling overwhelmed.

Once your little one turns 2 years old, parents and caregivers are no longer in the water.

All swimmers need swimwear, a towel, and your check-in tag (or the QR code from our app). Children over 2 years old will also need a swim cap; goggles are optional but generally not recommended by our instructors.

For little ones who aren’t toilet trained, a reusable swim nappy is required (disposables are not suitable). Children in our Green or SwimFit levels will also use flippers as part of their lessons.

If you need any gear, our swim shop at Narellan has everything you might need, making it easy to get your child ready for class.

If you need to cancel a swimming lesson as a one-off, you can do this through your UDIO portal (online or via the app). You’re also welcome to call us on 02 4647 4788 or email reception@swimaway.com.au.

To receive a makeup voucher for your class, cancellations must be made at least 2 hours before your lesson start time. Unfortunately, cancellations made within 2 hours of your class will result in the lesson being forfeited and no makeup voucher issued.

While we’re always sad to say goodbye, if you do need to end your enrolment, please email accounts@swimaway.com.au.

Please note, cancellations cannot be processed over the phone or at reception. You’re welcome to use any remaining makeup vouchers on your account up until your final swim date.

We’d love to welcome you back anytime.

Crying is a completely normal part of learning to swim - your little one is certainly not the first to feel upset, and they won’t be the last! For some children, it can take a little time to adjust, but these feelings usually settle as they become more comfortable in the water.

If you are worried about your child's experience or swim journey, please speak to our team. We have a fantastic program coordinator and training coordinator, as well as a dedicated team of trainers and instructors committed to helping your little one's succeed.

Speak to our friendly reception team and they will help organise a one-on-one class pending availability with our instructors.

Yes! All of our centres are indoor facilities with our pool temperatures maintaining a warm 33 degrees, so lessons are year round.

We operate year round, only taking a short break over Christmas and New Years. Our lessons are not in term blocks, they are a consistent, ongoing booking.

Yes, all our instructors are nationally qualified swim instructors through AUSTSWIM or Swim Australia.

Consistency is essential for progression - the best way for your child to retain skills is through regular lessons. Our levels follow structured lesson plans that every instructor uses, ensuring that if your usual teacher is away or your child is attending a makeup class, the new instructor knows exactly where your child is at. This helps maintain repetition, reinforce learning, and keep your child moving forward confidently.

You can see your child's level achievements on the UDIO portal either online or on the SwimAway app.