Swim instructor job description

The standard requirement is a recognised swim teaching accreditation (such as AUSTSWIM or Swim Australia Teacher), along with current first aid and CPR, a Working with Children Check and working rights in Australia. A pool lifeguard qualification and infant/toddler accreditation are desirable depending on your programs.

Yes, a valid Working with Children Check (or state equivalent) is required for anyone teaching children, which covers most swim instructor roles. Verify it before the instructor starts and track its expiry — HR software makes it easy to manage checks and certifications across a team.

Not always, but a pool lifeguard or rescue qualification is desirable and sometimes required depending on the facility and whether instructors also supervise open swim periods. Specify clearly in the job description whether it is essential or preferred for your site.

Mandatory requirements usually include a swim teaching accreditation, current first aid and CPR, a Working with Children Check, and working rights in Australia. Preferred qualifications include a lifeguard qualification and infant/toddler accreditation. Match the requirements to the programs and ages you teach.

This depends on your lesson demand, which is often seasonal. Casual instructors offer flexibility for variable timetables but attract a 25% casual loading under the Fitness Award. Permanent part-time staff provide consistency for ongoing programs. Many swim schools use a mix — permanent staff for core lessons and casuals for peaks and cover.

Under the Fitness Award (MA000094), full-time and part-time staff receive Saturday at 125%, Sunday at 150% and public holidays at 250%. Casual staff instead get a 25% loading on weekday hours and a flat rate of about 130% of the base for ordinary hours on weekends and public holidays. Rates differ under the Local Government Award — use award interpretation software to calculate accurately.

Broken shifts are common in learn-to-swim — for example, an after-school and an evening block. Under the Fitness Award, a broken shift allowance of about $18.07 per day (plus about $2.15 for excess fares) applies on top of the rates for the hours worked. Confirm the current amount in the Fitness Award pay guide.

Key elements include: position title and classification level, employment type (casual, part-time or full-time), pay rate, applicable award, reporting structure, main duties and required certifications such as swim teaching accreditation, first aid and a Working with Children Check. For casuals, include the 25% loading. Use our digital employment contracts to simplify this process.

Award and agreement rostering rules vary, so confirm the notice period that applies to your business. As a general practice, providing timetables at least 7 days in advance gives instructors visibility of their lessons. Using rostering software helps ensure compliance and reduces last-minute changes.

Build reusable roster templates for your weekly lesson timetable and match qualified instructors to each class level and timeslot, allowing for split shifts across after-school and evening blocks. Use rostering tools to track hours and adjust when instructors are unavailable. See our guide on how to roster fitness staff.

Roster enough qualified instructors to meet the safe ratios for each class level and age group, and never leave the water under-supervised. Use rostering software to plan coverage in advance and fill gaps quickly when someone is unavailable, keeping every lesson safely staffed.

Collect availability preferences during onboarding and update them regularly, allowing for the seasonal nature of swim programs. Use HR software and rostering tools to track when each instructor can work and which class levels they teach. Clear availability policies simplify timetable planning and reduce gaps in coverage.