Swimming lessons

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

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.

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

RLSS Swim and Survive levels one - 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.

The squad program is available to students who have passed Level 9, or have a current enrolment in a Level 9 class working to achieve these skills.

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.

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.

Beaches and swimming pools are a huge part of the Western Australian lifestyle. Stirling Leisure - Scarborough Beach's iconic beachfront location is the perfect setting for students to learn about controlled and natural open water swimming environments. We believe ensuring your child can swim safely and competently in both environments is vital.

At Stirling Leisure 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.

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. 

*Please note we can assess up to 3 students in 1 time slot, please book your place online under 1 student's name and email programsupervisors@stirling.wa.gov.au to let us know the names and ages of additional students attending the assessment. 

If your child is 3 years and under or a complete beginner, please do not book a Free Assessment - view our Level Finder Guide here.

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.

Our Learn to Swim program operates Monday to Sunday at all aquatics sites listed above. 

Available days and times are displayed on the link below, you can also enrol using the same link by following the prompts.

See timetable and enrol

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.

Unfortunately we do not offer a cash payment option. Our direct debit system will take a payment every 4 weeks or fortnightly from a nominated credit or debit card, or bank account. You can choose your payment frequency upon enrolment. 

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

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. 

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

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

To cancel swimming lessons, please email our memberships team at: memberships@stirling.wa.gov.au  

Cancellation requests are required 1 week prior to the next direct debit payment.

Clients can continue to use the centre until all prepaid classes have expired, remaining classes will not be credited or refunded.

For more information, please view our Learn to Swim Terms and Conditions.

The City of Stirling is looking for friendly and dedicated people for casual Learn to Swim positions at Stirling Leisure - Inglewood, Balga and Scarborough Beach.

• Free instructor course through RLSSA (eligibility criteria applies)
• Flexible hours
• Free gym membership
• Paid professional development.

If you’re interested in becoming a Swimming Instructor, we’d love to hear from you! Contact programsupervisors@stirling.wa.gov.au for more information.

Keen to get started?

Check to see if you meet the eligibility criteria for a free Swim Teacher course through Royal Life Saving Australia!

Eligibility for FREE enrolment

Persons aged 16 – 24 years (please note, must be at least 16 and 9 months), who are not enrolled in school, at the time of enrolment.

View full eligibility.

We can help you complete your practical hours and provide training in time for summer!

To commence practical hours:

• RLSSA / AUSTSWIM Proof of Theory Completion
• Valid CPR Certificate
• Valid Working with Children Check
• Valid Police Clearance (three months).

To apply for employment:

• RLSSA / Swim Australia / AUSTSWIM Teaching Accreditation
• Valid CPR Certificate
• Valid Working with Children Check
• Valid Police Clearance (three months)
• Valid First Aid Certificate
• Driver's licence/birth certificate/passport
• Resume
• Contact details for 2x referees
• Weekend (8.30am – 1.00pm) and Afternoon (3.00pm – 6.00pm) availability.

Lessons are not automatically cancelled upon passing a level.

When students pass their level, an automated email will be sent with directions to view the certificate via the online portal. Select Courses > Active enrolment > View progress > Download certificate.

Please visit the online portal to move to the next level. Select Courses > Active Enrolment > Progress Level > Choose new class, day and time. (Don't select new enrolment.) 

If a suitable day/time is not available when changing levels, we encourage students to continue their current level to keep up their skills until a space in the desired lesson becomes available.

For more information, please view our Learn to Swim Terms and Conditions.

Missed lesson passes

Each enrolled member is entitled up to two family passes for missed lessons per quarter. The passes allow entry for 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children. These passes must be issued at reception upon your return or within three months of missing the lesson. Passes are valid for three months. No extensions will be given

Holidays / planned time away

Students / parents are able to suspend lessons (and lesson fees) for up to 4 weeks per calendar year in any combination of 7-day blocks (i.e. in fixed periods of 7 days, 14 days, 21 days or 28 days.)

Suspension requests must be received in writing to memberships@stirling.wa.gov.au 1 week prior to your planned absence. Suspensions will incur a fee of $5.00 per week to maintain a student’s position in the class.

Medical suspension

For medical reasons, classes may be suspended for up to 4 weeks at no charge. A medical certificate or statutory declaration is required. Medical suspensions will be processed from the date listed on the medical certificate or statutory declaration.

We can backdate credits in medical circumstances as long as either a dated medical certificate or statutory declaration is supplied.

For more information, please view our Learn to Swim Terms and Conditions.