SKILL LEVEL

Enrolments are based on students working on achieving the following criteria per level. If the student has achieved the requirements outlined below for that level, they are eligible to move to the next skill level.

For example, enrolling your child in a Level C, means that the child is aiming to achieve and complete the skills outlined in the Level C. They are not expected to have already achieved these skills.

Below is the criteria for Level A for Pools:

  • Basic introduction to water safety rules
  • Safe entry & exit of water
  • Independent walking through water
  • Whole face in water, blow bubbles
  • Kick on front with flotation aid -recover to stand
  • Kick on back with flotation aid -recover to stand
  • Grasp & be rescued with a rigid object (by teacher/adult only)

Below is the criteria for Level A for Open Water:

ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS

  • Beach safety discussion

PERSONAL SAFETY

  • Assisted safe entry & exit of water
  • Independent walking through water- class discussion
  • Face in water & blow bubbles
  • Jump over waves, feet off bottom
  • Assisted recovery to standing position

SURVIVAL SKILLS  

  • Wade into water
  • Flotation aided on back
  • Aided kick on front with flotation aid
  • Aided kick on back with flotation aid
  • Aided roll over from back to front
  • Aided roll over from front to back

RESCUE SKILLS

  • Aided float & wave
  • Raise alarm by calling adult or lifeguard
  • Be rescued with rope or towel
  • Class discussion about clothing in water

INTRODUCTION TO BODY BOARDING

  • Practice on beach
  • Safety features

INTRODUCTORY PFD ACTIVITY

  • Assistance in putting on PFD on beach
  • Class discussion

Below is the criteria for Level A for Inland Waterways:

ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS

  • Check for Dangers discussion

INTRODUCTORY PFD ACTIVITY

  • Assistance in putting on PFD on shore

PERSONAL SAFETY

  • Assisted safe entry & exit of water
  • Independent walking through water – class discussion
  • Face in water & blow bubbles
  • Push off the ground and glide, confident recovery to standing position

SURVIVAL SKILLS

  • Wade into water
  • Flotation aided on back/front
  • Aided kick on back with flotation aid
  • Aided roll over from back to front
  • Aided roll over from front to back

RESCUE SKILLS

  • Aided float & wave
  • Raise alarm by calling adult or lifeguard
  • Be rescued with rope or towel
  • Class discussion about clothing in water

INTRODUCTION TO BODY BOARDING

  • Practice on beach
  • Safety Features
  • Class discussion

*with a lifejacket

Below is the criteria for Level B for Pools:

  • Handout sheet for water safety questions
  • Independent safe entry & exit of water
  • Push off the floor & glide; confident recover to standing position
  • Push & glide to flutter kick 3 meters; face in water
  • Kick 5 metres on back with flotation aid; ears in water
  • Horizontal arm sculling action in upright standing position with assistance from teacher
  • Aided 30 second float signal for help
  • Safe jump from edge to teacher
  • Be rescued with a tope (by teacher/adult only)

Below is the criteria for Level B for Open Water:

ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS

  • Beach safety discussion

PERSONAL SAFETY

  • Independent safe entry & exit of water
  • Submerge & blow bubbles
  • Unaided back float
  • Confident recovery to standing position
  • Assisted movement across water, feet clear of bottom
  • Assisted torpedo
  • Kick on front with flotation aid
  • Kick on back with flotation aid

SURVIVAL SKILLS

  • Introduction to survival backstroke arms
  • Introduction to treading water
  • Aided float, signal for help

RESCUE SKILLS

  • Identify rescue situation
  • Identify aids to use for reach rescue
  • Clothing discussion

INTRODUCTION TO BODY BOARDING

  • Practice paddling in shallow water
  • Safety with board in water

INTRODUCTORY PFD ACTIVITY

  • Assistance in putting PFD on beach and float in water
  • Class discussion

Below is the criteria for Level B for Inland waterways:

ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS

  • Check for Dangers discussion

INTRODUCTORY PFD ACTIVITY

  • Assistance in putting on PFD on shore

PERSONAL SAFETY

  • Independent safe entry & exit of water
  • Submerge & blow bubbles
  • Unaided back float/front float
  • Confident recovery to standing position
  • Assisted movement across water, feet clear of bottom
  • Assisted torpedo
  • Kick on front with flotation aid 10m
  • Kick on back with flotation aid 10m

SURVIVAL SKILLS

  • Introduction to survival backstroke
  • Horizontal arm sculling
  • Introduction to treading water
  • Aided float, signal for help

RESCUE SKILLS

  • Identify rescue situation
  • Identify aids to use for each rescue
  • Grasp and be rescued with a rigid object
  • Clothing discussion

INTRODUCTION TO BODY BOARDING

  • Practice paddling in shallow water
  • Safety with board in water
  • Class discussion

*with a lifejacket

Below is the criteria for Level C for Pools:

  • Handout sheet for water safety questions
  • Slide- in entry & safe exit from deep water
  • 10 metres backstroke – introduction only
  • 10 metres freestyle- introduction only
  • Introduction to freestyle breathing
  • Submerge & recover object from water of chest depth
  • Throw buoyant aid 5 meters to rescue partner, kick to edge
  • Introductory Survival Sequence:
  • Tread Water for 15 seconds
  • Survival scull on the back for 30 seconds
  • Float for 30 seconds holding arescue flotation aid – kick to edge

Below is the criteria for Level C Open Water:

ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS

  • Beach safety discussion

PERSONAL SAFETY

  • Introduction to freestyle
  • Introduction to backstroke
  • Gliding through waves

SURVIVAL SKILLS

  • Tread water & signal for help
  • Head first sculling
  • Introduce breaststroke kick

RESCUE SKILLS

  • Identify rescue situation
  • Identify aids to use for throw rescue
  • Throw buoyant aid to rescue partner
  • Clothing activity, t-shirt in shallow water with wetsuit on or without wetsuit on

SURVIVAL SQUENCE

  • Wade to swim
  • Survival scull on back for 30 sec
  • Float for 30 sec holding flotation aid then kick to safety

BODY BOARDING

  • Paddling out and catch a wave into shore

PFD ACTIVITY

  • Without assistance put PFD on
  • Enter water, float & wave for assistance

Below is the criteria for Level C for Inland Waterways:

ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS

  • Check for Dangers discussion

INTRODUCTORY PFD ACTIVITY

  • Without assistance in putting on PFD on shore

PERSONAL SAFETY

  • Torpedo
  • Slide in
  • Introduction to freestyle 10m
  • Introduction to backstroke 10m
  • Introduce survival backstroke kick 10m

SURVIVAL SKILLS

  • Tread water & signal for help for 1 min
  • Head first sculling
  • Lifesaving backstroke 5m
  • Introduce basic hand signals

RESCUE SKILLS

  • Identify rescue situation
  • Identify aids to use for throw rescue
  • Throw buoyant aid to rescue partner

SURVIVAL SEQUENCE

  • Clothing Activity, t-shirt and swimmers
  • Wade to swim
  • Tread water for 1 minute
  • Survival scull on back for 30 sec
  • Float for 30 sec holding flotation aid then kick to safety

BODY BOARDING

  • Paddling out 10m and back

*with a lifejacket

Below is the criteria for Level D for Pools:

  • Handout sheet for water safety questions
  • Step- in entry & safe exit from deep water
  • Head first survival scull
  • 15 metres backstroke using efficient technique
  • 15 metres freestyle using efficient technique
  • 5 metres introduction to lifesaving backstroke kick with board
  • 5 metres introduction to breaststroke kick with board
  • Survival sequence – dressed in swimwear & t-shirt:
  • Tread Water for 30 seconds
  • Rotate the upright body using arm sculling action
  • Survival scull for one minute
  • Surface dive, underwater swim 3 metres

Below is the criteria for Level D for Open Water:

ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS

  • Beach safety discussion

PERSONAL SAFETY

  • Backstroke
  • Freestyle
  • Survival backstroke
  • Introduction to breaststroke

SURVIVAL SEQUENCE

  • Clothing activity, t-shirt with wetsuit on or without wetsuit on
  • Tread water and/or survival scull for 1 minute
  • Surface dive under wave
  • Swim out in waves for 30 sec any stroke, then swim across waves for 30 sec

RESCUE SKILLS

  • Identify rescue situation
  • Understanding of self      preservation
  • Reach rescue

BODY BOARDING

  • Paddle out on board into waves and catch wave into shore

PFD ACTIVITY

  • Put on PFD, enter water
  • Perform HELP position

Below is the criteria for Level D Inland Waterways:

ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS

  • Check for Dangers discussion

PFD ACTIVITY

  • Correctly fit a PFD and enter water
  • Perform HELP position

PERSONAL SAFETY

  • Step in
  • Backstroke 15m
  • Freestyle 15m
  • Survival backstroke 10m
  • Feet first survival scull
  • Introduction to breaststroke
  • Introduction to Sidestroke

SURVIVAL SEQUENCE

  • Clothing activity, t-shirt and shorts
  • Tread water and/or survival scull for 3 minutes
  • Rotate upright body using arm sculling action
  • Swim out for 30 sec any stroke, then swim across for 30 sec

RESCUE SKILLS

  • Identify rescue situation
  • Understanding of self preservation
  • Reach rescue using a rigid object

BODY BOARDING

  • Paddling out 10m and back

*with a lifejacket

Below is the criteria for Level E for Pools:

  • Handout sheet for water safety questions
  • Compact jump & two other safe entries
  • Feet first survival scull
  • 25 metres backstroke using efficient technique
  • 25 metres freestyle using efficient technique
  • 10 metres introduction to lifesaving backstroke
  • Introduction to breaststroke & sidestroke
  • Survival sequence – dressed in swimwear, t-shirt & shorts:
  • Scull, float or tread water for 3minutes
  • Swim slowly for 3 minutes using actions representing three survival strokes
  • Introductory Personal Floatation Device activity
  • Surface dive & recovery of object from water depth equivalent to student height

Below is the criteria for Level E for Open Water:

ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS

  • Beach safety discussion

PERSONAL SAFETY

  • Backstroke & freestyle
  • Consolidate breaststroke
  • Introduction to sidestroke kick

SURVIVAL SEQUENCE

  • Clothing activity, t-shirt & shorts with wetsuit on or without wetsuit on
  • Scull, float or tread water for 2 min
  • Swim slowly for 3 min

RESCUE SKILLS

  • Identify rescue situation
  • Understanding of self preservation
  • Reach rescue with feet off bottom

BODY BOARDING

  • Paddle out on board into waves and catch wave into shore
  • Show control of body board while catching wave

PFD ACTIVITY

  • Correctly fit a PFD
  • Enter deep water & float for 1 min
  • Swim to shallow water

Below is the criteria for Level E for Inland Waterways:

ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS

  • Check for Dangers discussion

PFD ACTIVITY

  • Correctly fit a PFD and enter water
  • Enter deep water & float for 1 min

PERSONAL SAFETY

  • Compact Jump
  • Backstroke 25m & freestyle 25m Lifesaving backstroke 25m
  • Breaststroke 10m
  • Sidestroke 10m
  • Introduce butterfly kick

SURVIVAL SEQUENCE

  • Clothing activity, t-shirt and shorts
  • Scull, float or tread water for 3 min
  • Swim slowly for 3 min using survival strokes

RESCUE SKILLS

  • Identify rescue situation
  • Understanding of self preservation
  • Reach rescue with feet off bottom
  • Weighted rope rescue

BODY BOARDING

  • Paddling out on board 20m and back into shore
  • Show control while sitting on board

*with a lifejacket

Below is the criteria for Level F for Pools:

  • Handout sheet for water safety questions
  • Two safe entries & exits
  • 15 metres breaststroke using efficient technique
  • 10 metres sidestroke kick using efficient technique
  • 100 metres continuous swim using backstroke, freestyle & lifesaving backstroke
  • Survival sequence – dressed in swimwear, long-sleeved shirt & trousers:
  • Scull, float or tread water for 4minutes
  • Swim slowly for 6 minutes using actions recognised survival strokes
  • Remove clothing in deep water
  • Correctly fit a Personal Floatation Device, safely jump into deep water & float for 30 seconds, exit the water
  • Introductory to eggbeater kick
  • Unweighted rope rescue 5 metres

Below is the criteria for Level F for Open Water:

ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS

  • Beach safety discussion

PERSONAL SAFETY

  • Backstroke & freestyle
  • Breaststroke & survival backstroke
  • Consolidate sidestroke
  • Continuous swim – swim out from shore for 1 min, swim parallel with shore for 30 sec, swim/body surf back to shore

SURVIVAL SEQUENCE

  • Clothing activity, long sleeve shirt & trousers with wetsuit on or without wetsuit on
  • Scull, float or tread water for 5 min
  • Swim slowly for 5 min
  • Remove clothing in deep water

RESCUE SKILLS

  • Reach rescue in deep water using non rigid object

BODY BOARDIKNG

  • Paddle out for 2 min & catch a wave back
  • Show control while sitting on board

PFD ACTIVITY

  • Correctly fit a PFD
  • Enter deep water & float for 5 mins
  • Show HELP position, swim to shore

Below is the criteria for Level F for Inland Waterways:

ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS

  • Check for Dangers discussion

PFD ACTIVITY

  • Correctly fit a PFD and enter water organise a group into HELP position

PERSONAL SAFETY

  • Stride in
  • Feet first surface dive
  • Eggbeater kick
  • Backstroke 50m & freestyle 50m
  • Breaststroke 50m survival backstroke 50m & sidestroke 50m
  • Consolidate butterfly
  • Continuous swim- swim 250m using freestyle, backstroke, survival backstroke, breaststroke and sidestroke efficiently

SURVIVAL SEQUENCE

  • Clothing activity, t-shirt and shorts
  • Scull, float or tread water for 5 min
  • Swim slowly for 5 min using survival strokes
  • Remove clothing in deep water

RESCUE SKILLS

  • Reach rescue in deep water using non rigid object

BODY BOARDING

  • Paddling out for 2 min & back

*with a lifejacket

Below is the criteria for Level G for Pools:

  • Handout sheet for water safety questions
  • Stride entry, entry selected by teacher, & two other safe entries
  • Backward & forward somersault in the water
  • Efficient eggbeater kick without the use of arms
  • 25 metres butterfly
  • 250 metres continuous swim using backstroke, freestyle, lifesaving backstroke, breaststroke & sidestroke efficiently
  • Survival Sequence continuous- dressed in swimwear, trousers, long- sleeved shirt & pullover:
  • Enter the deep water using a feet first entry
  • Submerge feet first to simulate escape from an over turned boat surrounded by oil &
  • scull underwater on the back for 3 metres
  • Swim 50 metres quickly as if escaping from a dangerous situation & then swim 50 metres slowly
  • Demonstrate for 1 minute the use of a buoyant aid to provide support, using as little energy as possible & occasionally reassuring nearby candidates
  • Demonstrate survival sculling, floating, treading water or eggbeater kick for 3 minutes occasionally signaling for help
  • Remove clothing while treading water
  • Advanced PFD activity – H.E.L.P position, swim slowly for 50 metres, exit deep water while still wearing PFD
  • Non-rigid wade rescue & reach rescue