TEACHING children to swim is a necessity, however, with a nationwide shortage in swim instructors, it has never been more difficult to enrol a child.
With the announcement from Aquamoves last week that 390 students no longer have swimming lessons due to instructor scarcity, the question must be asked, why are there so few instructors?
With Covid and last year’s floods taking its toll, resulting in recurrent and lengthy pool closures, aquatics manager at Aquamoves, Liliana Angeles Garcia said instructors were left without consistent or reliable income as a result.
Stating that she had never met an instructor who didn’t find the role rewarding, Liliana acknowledged that it was no easy feat to become an instructor.
Compared to a pool lifeguard, which takes two days of paid training, acquiring a swim instructor license takes up to 20 hours of unpaid training.
In addition, trainees must pay hundreds of dollars including course fees, working with children checks and in CPR accreditation before earning a single dollar.
In addition, Liliana said there is also up to month of wait time before a licensed instructor can jump in a pool with a job.
Despite the Hunter Boyle Foundation drawing an unprecedented forty candidates in its second round of scholarships for trainees, Liliana said the funding was only able to accommodate five instructors.
Nevertheless, with all factors considered, Liliana acknowledged, “To be a swimming instructor is truly one of the most rewarding jobs; you give children the ability to go on holidays and be safe and happy.
“I see swimming instructors that cry with joy when they see a student put their head under the water for the first time.
“So, jump in and try it, you won’t regret it, we have many shifts available.”
