Applications were now open for the inaugural $1.3 million Youth Aquatic Accreditation Program that’s giving 17 to 25 year olds the opportunity to teach swimming skills and water safety.
The pandemic has created a shortage of accredited swim teachers and the new program aims to address this by creating more jobs for young people in the sector and providing an important pathway to a rewarding career.
The program will deliver grants of up to $325 towards courses for new teachers of Swimming and Water Safety, up to $285 towards courses for new teachers of Infant and Preschool Aquatics, and up to $195 toward the renewal of teacher of Swimming and Water Safety qualifications.
This provides an important entry point for young swim instructors to pursue or continue career opportunities in the aquatic sector, helping Victorians of all ages learn vital water safety skills and survival knowledge.
With 17 people tragically losing their lives due to drowning last summer in Victoria, the program is part of a wider range of Government initiatives to ensure more Victorians get the chance to learn swimming basics.
These include the VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program and the Get Active Kids Voucher program, which are lowering the barriers to participation and making swimming lessons accessible to all Victorians regardless of socio-economic status, location and cultural background.
The program complements the Government’s support for a $3.4 million partnership between Jobs Victoria and Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia to help 280 people secure jobs as swim teachers.
Together the new programs provide an important entry point for instructors to pursue or continue careers in the aquatic sector, helping Victorians of all ages learn vital water safety skills and survival knowledge.
The Victorian Government is also investing $55.2 million to support swim and water safety education programs in government, Catholic and special schools, and will also introduce them in government English language schools.
For more information about this and other program visit Youth Aquatic Accreditation Program