Swimming lessons

Swimming is a great sport and recreation skill for all ages. It can provide a lifetime of safe water-based activities with family and friends.

At Stirling Leisure Centres, we believe that learning to swim is essential to everyday life in WA. With our beaches, pools and lakes is it vital that both children and adults can swim confidently and safely.

Lessons are available at all three City of Stirling aquatic centres.

Learn to swim at Stirling Leisure Centres

Stirling Leisure Centres Learn to Swim Program is an ongoing program, offering 1 lesson per week and full pool access for the enrolled student at their centre. The ongoing program allows us to tailor the program to the student’s needs while maintaining a high standard of instruction. Our lessons follow the RLSSWA program for school aged children and our teachers are committed to the student’s development. Once enrolled, payments are made every 4 weeks by direct debit.

Scarborough offers Preschool classes and levels 1 to 3 from October to April; Levels 4 to 14 and Adults run October to July. Lessons will resume on October 10, 2022
Balga offers lessons for 50 weeks of the year in the heated indoor pool facilities
Inglewood offers lessons for 50 weeks of the year in the heated indoor pool facilities, during summer month some additional classes may be scheduled in the outdoor pool facilities, pending available pool space.

Learn to Swim will not run on WA recognised Public Holidays, or over the Easter Break, Friday to Monday inclusive. Lessons will be credited accordingly.

Learn To Swim will take a short 2-week break from Monday 19 December 2022 and recommencing on Tuesday 3 January 2023. Members can still gain access to the pools over Christmas and New Year as part of their membership.

Please view the Learn to Swim terms & conditions for information on suspension options throughout the year.

Our locations

Facility	Address
Stirling Leisure Centres - Terry Tyzack Aquatic Centre - Inglewood	62 Alexander Drive, Inglewood WA 6052
Stirling Leisure Centres - Leisurepark Balga	Corner of Princess Rd and Camberwell Rd, Balga WA 6061
Stirling Leisure Centres - Scarborough Beach Pool	171 The Esplanade, Scarborough WA 6019

Our programs

Aqua Babies

Morning classes for parents and babies aged 6 to 36 months to introduce your little one to the joy of swimming.

Level	Class description	Inglewood	Balga
Turtles (6 to 12 months)	First introduction to swimming lessons with a parent, learning safe entry and exits into water.	View classes and e nrol	View classes and enrol
Penguins (12 to 24 months)	Progressing to be a little more independent, learning how to float on front and back, kicking and splashing	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol
Platypus (24 months to 3 years)	More independent in the water. Jumping in, floating, climbing out safely, swimming short distances all while under close parent supervision.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol
Sharks (30 months to 3 years)	For students who have completed Platypus skills and are ready to start preparing for independent lessons, practicing independent skills with parents in the water. Students in this class will transition to Minnows when they turn 3, or if they achieve all skills in Sharks, they can advance to Barracuda upon assessment.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol

Pre-school program

Preschool programs are for children from three years old until they turn six years old.

This is the foundation phase, as young swimmers develop water awareness, confidence and independence in a class without a parent. Children will progress through basic floating and recovery in the Minnows group to being able to swim 10 metres of freestyle in Orca. The basics of rescues and water safety sequences are also taught.

Level	Class description	Inglewood	Balga	Scarborough
Minnows	The first independent lesson for children aged 3 and above. Students will learn safe entry & exit, how to submerge with eyes open and pick up toys from bottom. Key skills are independent front and back float.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Barracuda	Children will advance their skills to submerging their whole body, eyes open and exhaling. Extending the back and front float into a glide and recovering; front and back torpedoes.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Yabbie	In this level they will learn to submerge the whole body with confidence in deeper water; retrieve an object; demonstrate back and front float unassisted along with back and front torpedo over 3m.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Crocodile	Children will be starting to learn basic freestyle stroke, sitting dive and deep-water skills such as falling in forwards and backwards, recovering and monkey along the wall.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Dolphin	Freestyle will be extended to include breathing over 5m; Learn survival skills of treading water with a sculling hand action; along with assisted sitting dive and beginner breaststroke kick.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Orca	Orca is equal to level 3 and children will consolidate their skills ready for School aged level.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.

School-age program

School aged programs are for children who have turned six years old, until they turn 16 years old.

RLSS Swim and Survive levels 1 - 14.

All our school-age lessons follow the Royal Lifesaving Society’s swimming program. Swimmers will progress through the levels from beginners, to becoming competent and safe swimmers. Once they have mastered their swimming strokes they will work on more complex rescue skills and initiatives that can lead to them becoming safer around water.

Level	Class description	Inglewood	Balga	Scarborough
Level 1	Complete beginner will learn how to submerge and recover; float on their front and back confidently; and how to enter and exit the water safely.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Level 2	Working on Level 1 skills, swimmers will extend glides and move towards learning freestyle and backstroke. Safety Skills including the Aqua code.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Level 3	Level 3 provides and introduction to freestyle breathing over 10m, breaststroke kick on back (not frog kick) and how to gain support using small hand actions.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Level 4	Progressing to deep water swimming, students learn Freestyle covering 15m, Backstroke and survival backstroke 10m each. Recovering objects by surface dives and moving through water using small hand actions are also taught.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Level 5	Swimming distance advances to 25m freestyle, 15m backstroke, survival back stroke, and breaststroke using correct technique.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Level 6	Technique and distance improve, freestyle 50m, breaststroke, backstroke survival backstroke 25m. Demonstrate save dive entry.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Level 7	Class duration is extended to a 45-minute session to work on strengthening techniques and increasing total distance to 150m.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Level 8	Class duration is extended to a 60-minute session to work on, learning sidestroke and dolphin kick; ability to swim 200m continuously using all 4 strokes with correct technique.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Level 9	Class duration is extended to a 60-minute session to work on, swimming up to 300m continuously, learn tumble turns, basic CPR, non-contact rescues and safe water practices.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Marlins	Squad program for those who wish to concentrate on improving technique and endurance. Learn to swim further, faster, and for longer.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Level 10	Learn how to swim in clothing while maintaining technique, develop land-based rescues further and how to respond to an emergency.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Level 11	Continue to improve stroke technique and endurance, learn body orientation in deep water and rescuing a person close to the edge.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Level 12	Safe entries and exits from deeper water, develop personal survival skills and how to manage more complex rescues.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Level 13	A combined class - Continue to advance swimming skills, learn about personal hazards and dangers in different water bodies; how to assess an emergency and plan the safest rescue strategy.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Level 14		View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol

Adults program

Adult programs are for those who are 16 year and older.

Do you feel you are missing on family fun at the beach or pool because you have never had the opportunity to learn how to swim? Our classes start from beginners and go through to squad swimmers.

Level	Class description	Inglewood	Balga	Scarborough
Adult 1 - Complete beginners	Complete beginner - learn how to enter and exit, float on front and back, working towards basic strokes.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Adult 2 - Can swim 10 to 15 metres of each stroke	Begin to develop stroke technique treading water and basic water safety. Start swimming in deeper water.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Adult 3 - Can swim up to 25 metres of each stroke	Develop endurance and stroke technique with a goal of swimming 150m continuously. Learn basic rescues and surface dives.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.
Adult 4 - Stroke development and safety techniques	Develop stroke technique and endurance to swim up to 800m continuously; advanced safety, survival, and rescue techniques.	View classes and enrol	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.

Junior Lifeguard Club

Prerequisite: passed RLSS Level 12.

JLC is an ongoing program for students who wish to learn advanced survival skills, rescues, safety techniques and develop awareness of community services and emergency procedures. Students can also prepare to go onto other aquatic activities and work towards gaining the Bronze Medallion and move into lifeguarding.

Level	Class description	Inglewood	Scarborough
Junior Lifeguard Club	JLC provides a unique swimming and aquatic alternative for those who love the water and want more than just lessons topics - Community education, fitness, competition, swimming skills, leadership and teamwork and lifesaving knowledge	View classes and enrol	Enrolments will reopen September 19 2022, lessons resume October 10 2022.

Special needs lessons

At Stirling Leisure Centres we believe that everyone should have access to swimming lessons regardless of their ability.

Contact our Learn-To-Swim Team on programsupervisors@stirling.wa.gov.au to fill in a special needs questionnaire form. From there we will work with the parents and swimmers to arrange the right teacher, time and day for swimming lessons.

Special needs lessons are available by appointment only and are not offered at Scarborough Beach Pool.

Free assessment

If you are not sure which level you or your child should be enrolled in, you can sign up for a free assessment and our staff will observe specific skills to help determine which level is the best to enrol in.

Level	Class description	Inglewood	Balga	Scarborough
Free assessment	A quick assessment with one of our friendly deck attendants to help you know which level is going to be the best fit.	Find a time and book	Find a time and book	Available September 2022

Swimming lesson prices

Monday to Sunday classes	30 minute lesson	60 minute lesson
Off-peak (larger class size on off-peak days and times)	$11.00 per lesson	$12.00 per lesson
Peak (smaller class size on peak days and times)	$16.00 per lesson	$17.50 per lesson

What is peak and off peak?

Peak and Off Peak pricing means we are able to deliver classes at times when the facility is quieter for a cheaper price whilst maintaining our excellent standard of teaching. Peak classes for preschool and school aged classes are slightly smaller in capacity.

Peak and off-peak times vary throughout the week and are shown on the tables below. There's no need to worry though, when you enrol the correct rate is automatically applied for you.

Aquababies, Preschool and School aged - Weekdays
Time of day	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8.00 - 9.00	Off peak
9.30 - 11.00	Peak
11.30 - 2.30	Off peak
3.30 - 4.00	Off peak
4.00 - 5.30	Peak
6.00 - 7.30	Off peak

Aquababies, Preschool and School aged - Weekends
Time of day	Saturday	Sunday
7.30 - 8.00	Off peak
8.30 - 11.30	Peak
12.00 - 2.30	Off peak

Adults - Weekdays
Time of day	Monday - Friday
8:00 - 11.30	Off peak
5.00 - 7.30	Peak

Adults - Weekends
Time of day	Saturday & Sunday
8:30 - 11.30	Peak
12.00 - 2.30	Off peak

Parents supervise, lifeguards save lives

Even though lifeguards are on duty at public pools, parents still have a crucial role to play in the supervision of children while visiting these facilities. It’s not about shifting responsibility, it’s about having both parents and lifeguards working together to keep children safe.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find a timetable of lessons?

Our Learn to Swim program operates Monday to Sunday at all aquatics sites listed above. As the program is ongoing and dynamic we do not provide a timetable. Available days and times are displayed on the links above, and you can even enrol on the same link by following the prompts.

Do you provide make up lessons?

We do not offer make-up lessons for missed classes, but the Learn to Swim enrolment includes complimentary access for swimming recreational swimming and practice whenever you would like at your chosen aquatic centre.

Can I pay cash for lessons?

Unfortunately we do not offer a cash payment option. Our direct debit system will take a payment every 4 weeks from a nominated credit or debit card, or bank account.

How can I contact City of Stirling Learn to Swim staff?

To speak to a member of our friendly team, you can email programsupervisors@stirling.wa.gov.au or call your chosen facility reception

How do I know which level my child should be in?

You can use the tables above to help work out where your child belongs. We also offer complimentary assessments to determine your child's level based on their current skills and ability. You can sign up for an assessment in the "Free assessment" dropdown above.

When is the students swimming ability assessed?

As we run an ongoing Learn to Swim program, assessments are ongoing each week by the instructors. The Learn to Swim program will have a formal assessment week every 5 weeks. If a student is ready to progress to the next level prior to a formal assessment week, you will be notified through the online portal. Students progress can be checked via the member portal.

View the calendar here

Where will my lesson be?

Upon enrolment, you will receive details regarding your lesson day, time and location.