Level Guide

For the 2025/26 Holiday Swim program, the newly adapted Swim and Survive program will be implemented.

How to use the level guide: The activities outlined in each level are what the participants will be working towards if enrolled in that level. Participants should be enrolled into a class that is suitable for their skill level. While there is a recommended age on our booking website, if a participant is not up to that skill level, please choose a level that is suitable for them. If after the first day, you feel your child is in an incorrect level, please talk to your child’s instructor.

Please note: Participants may be required to bring extra clothing to wear over the top of their bathers for some of their activities, they may also be asked to bring a lifejacket if they own one. You are not expected to purchase a lifejacket to be able to participate in these lesson. Instructors will inform the participants when they will need to bring extra items to lessons. Any extra items will not be required on the first day.

Little Wonders (30 minute lessons - under 5 year olds)

  • (12 months to 36 months - Parent/Guardian in the water)

    Enter and Exit the Water

    Enter the water - return to the edge and exit

    Hand walk along the edge

    Float on Back

    Float on Front

    Orientate the body using rotation skills

    Glide

    Move arms

    Move Legs

    Move arms and legs through the water

    Experience water on the head and face

    Submerge

    Bubbles

Levels 1 to 11 (from 5 years old)

  • Identify where water can be found around the home

    Identify safe areas for entering and exiting water

    Enter and exit the water

    Float on front and back using a buoyant aid

    Orientate the body using rotation with a buoyant aid

    Kick on front and back using a buoyant aid

    Glide on front and back

    Move 3 metres continuously using arms and legs

    Submerge the body and exhale in the water

    Identify people who can help in an emergency

  • Identify dangers in aquatic environments around the home

    Slide in entry and exit

    Float on front and back and recover

    Tread water using a buoyant aid

    Fit a lifejacket and float

    Glide on front and back, kick and recover

    Swim 5 metres basic freestyle

    Submerge to recover an object from chest deep water

    Identify different ways to get help

    Be pulled to safety with an aid

    Float with a buoyant aid for 30 seconds and kick to safety

  • Identify rules for safe behaviour in and around home aquatic environments

    Fall in entry and recover

    Float on back for 30 seconds

    Tread water for 30 seconds

    Swim 10 metres freestyle with breathing

    Swim 5 metres backstroke

    Swim 5 metres survival backstroke kick

    Swim through a submerged obstacle

    Identify people and actions to help in an aquatic emergency

    Be rescued with a buoyant aid

    Perform a survival sequence to simulate an acccidental entry

  • Identify aquatic environments

    Step in entry

    Float on front and back in deep water and recover

    Orientate the body using rotation skills

    Swim 15 metres freestyle

    Swim 15 metres backstroke

    Swim 10 metres survival backstroke

    Swim 10 metres breaststroke kick

    Surface dive and recover an object from shoulder deep water

    Recognise an emergency and call for help

    Talk rescue

  • Compact jump

    Head-first and feet first sculling

    Float, scull or tread water wearing a lifejacket

    Swim 25 metres freestyle

    Swim 25 metres backstroke

    Swim 15 metres survival backstroke

    Swim 15 metres basic breaststroke

    Recognise and support an emergency

    Reach rescue using a rigid and non-rigid aid

    Perform a survival sequence with a buoyant aid

  • Identify and describe hazards in aquatic environments

    Stride in entry

    Float, scull or tread water for 1 minute

    Swim 50 metres freestyle

    Swim 50 metres backstroke

    Swim 25 metres survival backstroke

    Swim 25 metres breaststroke

    Swim 10 metres dolphin kick

    Surface dive, swim underwater for at least 1 metre and recover an object from shoulder deep water

    Throw rescue 5 metres from safety using a buoyant aid

    Perform a survival sequence without a buoyant aid

  • Understand and follow safety fules for aquatic environments

    Dive in entry

    Enter and exit the water in a range of environments wearing light clothing

    Float, scull or tread water for 2 minutes and signal for help

    Swim 75 metres freestyle

    Swim 75 metres backstroke

    Swim 50 metres survival backstroke

    Swim 50 metres breaststroke

    Surface dive, swim for up to 3 metres and search to recover an object in deep water

    Respond to an emergency and perform a primary assessment

    Throw rescue 10 metres from safety using a weighted and unweighted rope

    Perform a survival sequence wearing light clothing.

  • Explain water safety signage

    Fit a lifejacket whilst in the water

    Swim 100 metres freestyle

    Swim 100 metres backstroke

    Swim 75 metres survival backstroke

    Swim 75 metres breaststroke

    Swim 15 metres sidestroke

    Tumble turn

    Rescue initiative scenario no more than 10 metres.

  • Explore how to participate safelyin a range of aquatic activities

    Perform the HELP technique for 2 minutes

    Swim 150 metres freestyle

    Swim 100 metres survival backstroke

    Swim 100 metres breaststroke

    Swim 10 metres basic butterfly

    Swim 25 metres sidestroke

    Wade rescue 15 metres

    Perform a survival sequence wearing a lifejacket

  • Understand and assess a range of aquatic risks

    Perform that huddle technique for 2 minutes

    Swim 200 metres freestyle

    Swim 200 metres continuously using 1 swimming stroke and 2 survival strokes

    Swim 10 metres butterfly

    Swim 50 metres sidestroke

    Search in shallow water

    Accompanied rescue 15 metres

    Perform a survival sequence in a group

  • Understand personal abilities and limitations that affect safety in and around water

    Float, scull or tread water for 5 minutes and signal for help

    Be introduced to timed swims

    Swim 250 metres continuously using 2 swimming strokes and 2 survival strokes

    Swim 15 - 25 metres butterfly

    Swim 100 metres sidestroke

    Search in deep water

    Rescue initiative scenario no more than 15 metres

    Perform a survival sequence wearing heavy clothing

Bronze Awards

Please note for Bronze Awards:

It is recommended that participants have access to the Lifesaving Manual. Throughout the week, the participants will be asked to refer to the Lifesaving Manual and may be given reading homework to assist in their classes. The manual will also be used when doing their theory exam.

The manual can be purchased at the time of enrolling for $45.

Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, Award of Merit and Distinction level participants will be required to attend a practical examination to be marked competent. This examination may take place on a separate day and may be at a different location than where the class lessons take place. To be marked as competent the participant must pass all examination tasks to a satisfactory standard.

  • Suitable for upper primary and lower secondary school students. This award focuses on developing skills and knowledge of safe rescue and survival.

  • Holders of this award are recognised as having gained a minimum standard as a qualified lifesaver and must be a minimum age of 14 years. The Bronze Medallion is an iconic award in Australian lifesaving that aims to develop knowledge, judgement, technique and physical ability for safe water rescues and survival.

  • The prerequisite to this award is the Bronze Medallion. This award further challenges the paticipant to reach a higher level of judgement, technique and physical ability required to carry out water rescues.