Student Resources

Swimming Lessons benefits

• Student and one responsible parent/guardian access to the Leisure Water outside of lesson times*. Practice your newly learnt skills or just have fun
• Complimentary Locker access
• Free Aqua Sensory Play (Starfish, Periwinkle & Minnow levels)
• Free Wibit (6 + Years)
• Free Waterslides (5+ years, Height Requirement)
• 20% discount in the Retail Store
• 10% of Wibit Birthday Parties

*Please read our Watch Around Water Supervision Policy regarding ratio of parents to children and supervision requirements below.

Level assessments are conducted every eight weeks. All students in the program are continually assessed by the Teacher in Charge “TIC” for improvement and readiness to progress to the next level. The TIC will discuss the outcome of each child’s assessment either face to face or via an email progress report.

All progression discussions are welcome, and we ask that you raise any feedback with the TICs at Swim Desk. We encourage weekly lesson attendance as consistency is key to mastering water safety skills.

You can access your online customer portal account to view your assessment history.

We run two safety weeks each year, to help increase your child’s water safety in different water environment sand scenarios.

When: Monday 20 July - Sunday 26 July 2026 & Monday 16 November - Sunday 22 November 2026.

What happens: During this week the students will participate in several activities that focus on water safety in and around water. Children will experience the challenges of what it feels like to wear clothes in the water, rescue techniques, and survival strokes applicable to their level of swimming.

What to bring: To ensure that your child gets the most out of this week, please bring some old pyjamas or loose clothing along with their bathers for them to swim in (this applies to children in levels Goldfish to Shark).

Adelaide Aquatic Centre holds the safety of our members and patrons as our top priority. Ensuring constant supervision of children is of upmost importance.

Upon enrolment children are given a wristband with a colour that is determined by the age of the student. Coloured wristbands are essential to support the Centre’s supervision policy. This band will also gain you access to the Centre. Please wear your membership wristband when at the Centre.

Families can help us to ensure this by following the below policy for parents / carers:

• Parents / Carers are expected to be present for the handover of their child at the beginning of swimming class. Then at the end of each swimming class parents / carers are to collect students from their teacher.

• Students under 10 years are required to have a parent available on deck to supervise children throughout their lesson.

• If your child is under 3 years old and/or enrolled into one of our infant classes (Starfish, Periwinkle, Minnow) then a parent/guardian must be in the water for the lesson.

To ensure the safety of all our students at the beginning and end of every lesson please remember:

• Children MUST be received and acknowledged by the teacher directly from the parent before entering the water.

• Collect your child / children in the same location as class commenced. Unless specified by the teacher or TIC on deck.

• No children will be permitted to leave the class and teacher until the parent /carer or TIC collects them.

• When child / children are collected by the TIC on deck the student will be walked to the Swim School Desk. The TIC and Duty Manager will attempt to contact reasonable persons and emergency contacts on the student’s membership.

We would like to thank you for your continued support in the safety and supervision of children.

At the SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre we are a Watch Around Water endorsed aquatic safety facility.

Watch Around Water is a set of industry guidelines outlining the minimum supervision requirements of young children at all affiliated aquatic venues.

Please follow the Watch Around Water guidelines when attending the Centre outside of lesson times. This includes before and after the lesson or for Leisure Swimming. Please refer to the Supervision of Children during lessons for supervision requirements during the lesson.

Upon enrolment children are given a wristband with a colour that is determined by the age of the student. Coloured wristbands are essential to support the Centre’s supervision policy. This band will also gain you access to the Centre. Please wear your membership wristband when at the Centre.

Please be sure to get a new wristband from Swim School Information Desk in the front foyer when your child turns 5.

We understand that life can be unpredictable. If your child is unable to attend a Swimming Lesson and your have registered an absence via your online customer portal account, or if your lesson falls on a public holiday, you can book a make-up lesson to ensure your child retains important water safety skills.

If a medical certificate is provided for illness or injury, we offer medical suspensions for the dates specified on the certificate. Please read information on medical suspensions below.

How to register absence

Online

1. Visit the online customer portal and use your email and password to log in to your account.
2. Select 'My Bookings'
3. Select the date you are absent
4. Select 'Manage Bookings'
5. Select 'Register an absentee' next to the students name
6. Select 'Confirm Cancellation' and you may receive a make up token to book at a more convenient time

Call us

Call us on (08) 7170 2000 to notify us of your absence. Your absence is not registered until you receive confirmation.

Make-Up Lessons

Every student can use an unlimited number of make-up lessons in the event that they are unable to attend their regular lesson. Please see the policy for make-up lesson eligibility below.

What to do if you miss your regular Swimming Lesson for reasons excluding medical

How to book a make-up lesson

There a three ways to book a make-up lesson. You must have registered your absence (see above) prior to the class starting or have had a lesson on a public holiday to be eligible for a make-up lesson.

ONLINE

The easiest and quickest is by logging into the online customer portal

1. Login to your online customer portal account.
2. Select Book
3. Select Swimming Lessons
4. Select the blue toggle-switch in the top left hand corner to "single/make-up lesson"
5. Use the filter to select your relevant level
6. Use the timetable to find your preferred day and time associated to your level
7. Select 'Book now' to bring up your options
8. Select 'Book now' next to the students name

IN-CENTRE

Visit the Swim School Desk at Front Desk

OVER THE PHONE

Call us on (08) 7170 2000

Make-up lessons policy

The following policy applies for make-up lesson eligibility.

• Each student is entitled to one make-up lesson per missed lesson, with an unlimited number of make-up lessons able to be booked in a calendar year.
• To be able to claim a make-up lesson you must register your absence before the lesson has started or have your regular lesson time fall on a public holiday or Easter Sunday. You do not need to register your absence for a public holiday or Easter Sunday, this will happen automatically.
• Make-up Lessons have an expiry of 90-days from the absent class. All make-up lessons not claimed within 90-days will be forfeited.
• To be eligible to book in for a make-up lesson, you must be a current Swimming Lessons Member.
• Make-up lessons can only be arranged up to 1 week in advance and once booked cannot be altered
• Make-up lessons will be forfeited if not attended.
• You are not able to cancel a make-up lesson.
• Make-up lessons are forfeited upon cancellation of the student’s Membership.
• You are not able to book and/or participate in a make-up lesson if your membership is on suspension.
• Make-up lessons are not available for medical suspensions.
• Make-up lessons are not transferrable for cash or credit.
• If you miss a lesson, you are required to notify the Centre prior to your lessons via the online absentee notification form below or by calling (08) 8198 0198.

Suspensions

Medical Suspensions

Medical suspensions are available for students who have a medical certificate for being unable to attend one or more consecutive lessons provided.

Please note make-up lessons are not available for medical suspensions.

How to arrange a medical suspension due to illness or injury

Swimming Lessons Memberships may be placed on suspension for medical reasons, by completing a Membership/Program Amendment form at the Centre. Please see us at the Swim School information desk to request a medical suspension.

A valid medical certificate that covers all the requested dates of suspension must be presented at the time of lodgement of the Membership/Program Amendment form.

Medical suspensions can only be backdated for up to one month.

Travel Suspension

Travel suspensions are available for students at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre. Each student can utilise up to 3-weeks of travel suspension per calendar year, with no fee associated.

Please note make-up lessons are not available for travel suspensions.

Two X $100 FREE YMCA Swimming Lesson credit is available through The Sports Vouchers program with the SA government administered by the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

Reception to Year 9 (year of birth from 2011 to 2021) are entitled to a two X $100 Sports Voucher per calendar year. Further details about the initiative can be found on the Sport Vouchers Website.

How to claim the 2026 Sports Voucher: 

1. Visit the Sports Voucher Website to download and complete the 2026 Sports Voucher.

2. Bring your completed voucher(s) into the Centre.

3. Once approved, the 2 X $100 credit will be placed on your family's swimming lesson account within 10-15 business days, and will be automatically used to pay for direct debit payments.

Cancellation process

Most of your personal and payment details can be updated via your online customer portal account.

For email and name changes please visit the Centre to update.

It is important to keep your details updated, so that you receive any important correspondence from our team regarding your membership.

Payment details can also be updated at the Centre. Please visit us at the Front Desk to update.

Please note the following deadlines for updating payment details:

• after 12pm the Wednesday before the direct debit via the online customer portal,
• after 5pm the Wednesday before the direct debit for in-Centre requests.

We understand that life can be unpredictable. If your child is unable to attend a Swimming Lesson please register your absence and then book a make-up lesson to ensure your child retains important water safety skills. If your lesson falls on a public holiday, you do not need to register your absence and you will automatically be allocated a make-up lesson to your account.

If a medical certificate is provided for illness or injury, we offer medical suspensions for the dates specified on the certificate. Please read information on medical suspensions below.

Further details on make-up lessons and medical suspensions can be found on Existing Student Resources.

Medical suspensions are available at no charge for students who are unable to attend one or more consecutive lessons. Medical suspensions can be back-dated for one month.

To request a medical suspension, please visit the Centre with your medical certificate, and complete an amendment form.

For lesson notified absences we offer make-up lessons. Please read our make-up lessons policy for more information.

Whilst the YMCA welcomes the capturing of your magic moments, the privacy of others must be respected.

For this reason we do not allow photos or videos to be taken on pool deck without prior arrangement and the following conditions:

• All persons within the pool areas must have signed a photo consent form
• Any photos taken must not be published or broadcast without prior consent

Under no circumstances are cameras, video cameras or mobile phones to be used in change room areas.

Absolutely. When a child is enrolled in swimming lessons, they become a member of SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre. The students have unlimited access to the pools to practice their newly learnt skills or to just have fun in the water with family and friends.

Infants are required to wear aqua nappies that are tight fitting around the thighs if they wear a standard nappy when not swimming. Standard nappies are not permitted in the pool. Aqua nappies are available for purchase at customer service.

If your child is under 3 years old and/or enrolled into one of our infant classes (Starfish, Periwinkle, Minnow) then a parent/guardian must be in the water for the lesson.

Swimming lesson memberships are perpetual direct debit agreements with no “lock in” period or cancellation fees; A minimum notice of 14 days must be given prior to the next payment day if that payment is to be stopped. We require written notice of cancellation by completing a cancellation form at the Centre. The customer will be entitled to their normal access to the Centre until the end of the payment period that follows the final payment.

Convenient fortnightly direct debit payments encourage continual skill development with no re-enrolment process. Every second Thursday the agreed debit amount is withdrawn from your nominated bank account or credit card.

The debit pays for the day of the debit and the following thirteen days.

If a debit has failed, you will be notified via text and/or email. A $15.00 fee is charged for any rejected debit.

Every child progresses at a different rate. There is no one answer and we strongly encourage parents to not make comparisons with other children. Some children will progress quickly, others will take considerably longer. Variables that can influence learning include (but not limited to) overcoming a fear, natural aptitude and the amount of practice that occurs outside lessons.

Progression occurs within a level. Not reaching the next level does not indicate a lack of skill acquisition. Children improve within levels. It is also important for them to learn a skill rather than perform it once before they move to another class.

Yes, all of our pools are heated.

Bathers, towel, goggles and dry clothes to change into after their session.

Medical suspensions are available at no charge for students who are unable to attend one or more consecutive lessons. Medical suspensions can be back-dated for one month and must be arranged in person or email and be accompanied by a supporting medical certificate.

Please be aware that it is not uncommon for young children to require a period of time to adjust to swimming lessons. Most children will settle within a few weeks; however we do encourage parents of preschool aged children to bring bathers along during the first couple of weeks in case your child requires additional support.

Our Teachers and Teachers In Charge hold nationally accredited Teacher of Swimming & Water Safety Certificates, a current CPR and a First Aid certificate. They all hold Working with Children Checks and have undergone a Criminal History Record screen and Safeguarding Children and Young People training.

All teachers that teach infant lessons hold an additional specialised qualification.

Yes, each student is issued with a membership wrist band which must be scanned at the entry gates before every lesson to gain entry to the pool.