School Swimming Program
Find all the necessary information to book and participate in school swimming and water safety programs. We offer flexible options to accommodate both Department of Education programs with external instructors and those managed by Lake Mac Swim Centres instructors.
Centrally Coordinated Program (External Instructors)
Organised by the NSW Department of Education School Sport Unit. Department of Education representatives can contact us directly to determine date availability and arrange lane space. For all enquiries, you will need to submit the required details, including preferred dates, program duration, number of lanes, school name, and number of participants. A hire agreement is necessary for all bookings. Bookings are not confirmed until the hire agreement has been received by the Swim Centre.
Program Cost
Lane hire during usual centre hours is free for the Department of Education school swimming schemes. A $4.10 general entry fee applies for all participants.
Payment Options
You can choose to pay general entry fees on the day, at the end of the program, or via invoice. To invoice the school, we need the following details: a contact person's name, postal address, email, and phone number.
School Managed Program (Lake Mac Swim Centres Instructors)
Organised directly by the school with our Lake Mac Swim Centres team. Schools should reach out to us with their preferred dates for the learn to swim program, and we will check our pool space and instructor availability. A hire agreement is necessary for all bookings. Bookings are not confirmed until the hire agreement has been received by the Swim Centre.
Locations and Facilities
Our Learn to Swim programs are available at Charlestown, Swansea, Speers Point, and West Wallsend Swim Centres. Each centre offers various heated pools, supervised by qualified lifeguards. Instructors are certified by AUSTSWIM, ASCTA, Royal Life Saving Australia, or equivalent. Please note that school teachers must remain on-site during the program.
Class Structure and Program
We run 30-minute classes to maintain low student-to-teacher ratios and provide better value for money. This structure also assists with managing change room usage for large groups. Students will learn safety skills, survival skills, and competitive strokes, grouped by skill level. Beginners will focus on basic swimming and safety, intermediates on technique and safety equipment, and advanced swimmers on stroke refinement and rescue scenarios.
Course Delivery
Schools can choose from a term program (once a week), an intensive daily program (10 consecutive days), a bi-weekly program (twice a week for 5 weeks) or other agreed schedules. Programs run between 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday, subject to availability. Supervision for non-water activities is the school's responsibility.
Program Cost
The cost is $7 per child per 30-minute session (inclusive of pool entry).
Payment Options
Schools will be invoiced the full cost of the booking based on the participant numbers provided one week prior to the commencement of the program. Advance payment is required to ensure we can adequately allocate resources and schedule our Learn to Swim instructors effectively, guaranteeing a high-quality learning experience for all participants.
Contact Us
For bookings and enquiries, please contact your preferred Lake Mac Swim Centre.
Hire Agreements
To confirm your booking, please download and complete the relevant hire agreement and return it to the Swim Centre.
Charlestown - Schools (General) Hire Agreement Form(PDF, 1MB)
Speers Point - Schools (General) Hire Agreement Form(PDF, 1MB)
Swansea - Schools (General) Hire Agreement Form(PDF, 1MB)
West Wallsend - Schools (General) Hire Agreement Form(PDF, 1MB)
For more information about the NSW Department of Education's school swimming and water safety programs, please visit the NSW Department of Education School Sport Unit website.