UWA Learn to Swim Program

Safe and friendly swim lessons for children of all swimming levels

About UWA Learn to Swim

The UWA Aquatic Centre is one of the best learn-to-swim environments with families being able to enjoy an enclosed 25 metre pool and warm 28-degree water temperature all year round. The supportive environment aims to nurture young swimmers, with opportunity to progress through our recreational pathways, or to transition to our affiliated clubs such as the UWA West Coast Swimming Club, UWA Water Polo Club or UWA Triathlon Club.

Our highly qualified instructors are passionate about providing the best experience for each child in the pool, from water safety skills to the perfection of swim strokes. The UWA Aquatic Centre is a recognised industry leader in providing swimming programs, and every week we see more than 1000 children from three years old upwards improve their skills and confidence in the pool. Initial emphasis is placed on developing confidence and effective movement in the water, later progressing to the swimming essentials of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and dive starts.

"Excellent, knowledgeable and fun instructors, with small class sizes. Results have been outstanding - our daughter has become a very competent swimmer who did very well in her most recent school swimming carnival." – Learn to Swim parent

"I like that the small classes give children space to learn and that the pool is sheltered and warm." – Learn to Swim parent

Current Programs

Term 2 2022

Tuesday 26 April - Saturday 2 July

Every week, swimmers will focus on a different stroke, working on specific aspects of each stroke as well as deep water and diving skills. Our structured teaching methodology ensures that the foundations of each stroke are mastered before progressing to more advanced skills.
  • Class times: Mon-Fri, 3:30-6pm and Sat 8am-12pm
  • Due to public holidays, term length varies depending on which day of the week is chosen
    • Tuesday-Saturday: 10 week term, $250
    • Sunday: 9 week term, $225
    • Monday: 8 week term, $200
  • No lessons on Monday 25 April, Monday 6 June or Sunday 3 July
  • Limited early classes are now available at 3pm on Tuesdays - perfect for pre-schoolers to be introduced to swimming
  • NEW Sunday classes are also available 9am-12pm. These class times in a quieter environment are particularly suited to beginner swimmers.
  • Want to book a second weekly session? Call our office to receive 10% off!

Don’t forget that all swimmers require a swimming cap, goggles and fitted racing bathers. This assists them to swim distraction-free, with a more streamlined body position and less drag in the water, and develop their swimming fundamentals more easily.

In the event that our centre is closed due to COVID-19 restrictions or your family is required to isolate, you will receive family credit to the value of lessons missed.

To enrol in private lessons, contact our friendly Aquatics team via email or by calling +61 8 6488 2277 

Booking and program enquiries can be directed to the Aquatics team on +61 8 6488 2277 or [email protected]  

For guidance using our online enrolment system, click here to read our step-by-step guide. All programs are governed by the UWA Sport Programs Terms and Conditions.

Enrol online

Upcoming Programs

July Holiday Intensive

Monday 4 July - Friday 15 July

Accelerate your child's swimming progress and make the most of the school holidays by continuing your swimming routine. Holiday Intensive lessons focus on a different stroke every day, working on refining your child's abilities in the four core strokes as well as deep water and diving skills. Holiday Intensive lessons can deliver 10 weeks' worth of swimming in just 10 days, and are perfect for busy families who have many commitments during the school term.

Block 1: Mon 4 July - Fri 8 July
Block 2: Mon 11 July - Fri 15 July

  • Class times: Lessons are scheduled every half-hour between 8am and 11am daily. Some blocks may end earlier or later at the discretion of the UWA Aquatic Centre.
  • Cost: $125 per 5-day block. Bookings are for the duration of the block and partial block/individual day bookings are not accepted.

Don’t forget that all swimmers require a swimming cap, goggles and fitted racing bathers. This assists them to swim distraction-free, with a more streamlined body position and less drag in the water, and develop their swimming fundamentals more easily.

In the event of our program being impacted by COVID-19 or in the event your family is required to isolate, you may request a family credit to the value of lessons missed.

To enrol in private lessons, contact our friendly Aquatics team via email or by calling +61 8 6488 2277 

Booking and program enquiries can be directed to the Aquatics team on +61 8 6488 2277 or [email protected]  

For guidance using our online enrolment system, click here to read our step-by-step guide. All programs are governed by the UWA Sport Programs Terms and Conditions.

Enrol online

Term 3 2022

Monday 18 July - Sunday 25 September

Every week, swimmers will focus on a different stroke, working on specific aspects of each stroke as well as deep water and diving skills. Our structured teaching methodology ensures that the foundations of each stroke are mastered before progressing to more advanced skills.

  • Class times: Mon-Fri, 3:30-6pm, Sat 8am-12pm and Sun 9am-12pm
  • Cost: $250 (10-week term)
  • Limited early classes are available at 3pm on Tuesdays - perfect for pre-schoolers to be introduced to swimming
  • Want to book a second weekly session? Call our office to receive 10% off!

Don’t forget that all swimmers require a swimming cap, goggles and fitted racing bathers. This assists them to swim distraction-free, with a more streamlined body position and less drag in the water, and develop their swimming fundamentals more easily.

In the event that our centre is closed due to COVID-19 restrictions or your family is required to isolate, you will receive family credit to the value of lessons missed.To enrol in private lessons, contact our friendly Aquatics team via email or by calling +61 8 6488 2277 

Booking and program enquiries can be directed to the Aquatics team on +61 8 6488 2277 or [email protected]  

For guidance using our online enrolment system, click here to read our step-by-step guide. All programs are governed by the UWA Sport Programs Terms and Conditions.

Enrol online

September Holiday Intensive

Tuesday 27 September - Friday 7 October

Accelerate your child's swimming progress and make the most of the school holidays by continuing your swimming routine. Holiday Intensive lessons focus on a different stroke every day, working on refining your child's abilities in the four core strokes as well as deep water and diving skills. Holiday Intensive lessons can deliver 10 weeks' worth of swimming in just 10 days, and are perfect for busy families who have many commitments during the school term.

Block 1: Tue 27 September - Fri 30 September (4 days - $100)
Block 2: Mon 3 October - Fri 7 October (5 days - $125)

  • Class times: Lessons are scheduled every half-hour between 8am and 11am daily. Some blocks may end earlier or later at the discretion of the UWA Aquatic Centre.
  • Bookings are for the duration of the block and partial block/individual day bookings are not accepted.

Don’t forget that all swimmers require a swimming cap, goggles and fitted racing bathers. This assists them to swim distraction-free, with a more streamlined body position and less drag in the water, and develop their swimming fundamentals more easily.

In the event of our program being impacted by COVID-19 or in the event your family is required to isolate, you may request a family credit to the value of lessons missed.

To enrol in private lessons, contact our friendly Aquatics team via email or by calling +61 8 6488 2277 

Booking and program enquiries can be directed to the Aquatics team on +61 8 6488 2277 or [email protected]  

All programs are governed by the UWA Sport Programs Terms and Conditions.Enrol online

New Swimmers

All children who are new to the program or who haven't swum for some time will need to book a swimming assessment to determine their levels in the UWA Learn to Swim program. This will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes for each child. Assessments can be organised at the UWA Aquatic Centre and are free of charge. Please call 6488 2277 or email [email protected] to arrange your assessment today.  

Pre-Squad Sessions

Pre-Squad is offered as a transition program from Learn to Swim into other Aquatics Programs, including the UWA affiliated clubs and the UWA Sport Aquatic Fitness and Recreation Program. In Pre-Squad, swimmers will be introduced to the Butterfly stroke as well as developing and correcting their freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke and will learn introductory squad skills including turns, dives, using the pace clock and training etiquette.

Enrol now

We've introduced a NEW streamlined enrolment system; click here to read the step-by-step guide. Please contact call 6488 2277 or email [email protected] if you have any questions or require assistance registering online.

Class levels

Entry (E)
For children who have never learned to swim before or who are nervous or reluctant to enter the water. Swimmers learn the basics of water confidence such as entry and exit, movement around the pool, blowing bubbles, submerging and floating. A significant amount of teaching is done through play, with the teacher in the water.
Beginner Confident Water (BCW)
Swimmers develop floating, bubbles, breathing, body position and kicking over distances of 5–7 metres, with a teacher in the water.
Beginner Confident (BC)
Swimmers will become proficient at bubbles, breathing, and kicking on their front and back over distances of 7–12.5 metres. Swimmers also begin to learn freestyle technique.
Beginner Progressed (BP)
Swimmers learn to perform formal freestyle and backstroke with the use of flotation aids and flippers to help maintain an efficient body position.
Super Beginner Progressed (SBP)
Swimmers refine their freestyle and backstrokes, developing technique and control to swim 12.5 metres unaided.
Progressed (P)
Swimmers further refine their freestyle and backstroke without the use of flotation aids. Swimmers learn to breathe to their non-preferred side in freestyle. Swimmers also begin learning the breaststroke kick.
Progressed Advanced (PA)
Swimmers continue to develop stroke technique across freestyle and backstroke, including a continuous arm recovery in backstroke, and a bent arm recovery in freestyle. Swimmers also learn to perform breaststroke.
Advanced (A)
Swimmers begin to develop competitive strokes, including multiple 25 metre lengths of freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke. Swimmers also learn tumble turns, butterfly kick, and racing dives.
Pre Squad
Swimmers learn introductory squad swimming skills such as turns, how to read the pace clock, rules and etiquette of squad training, and continue to refine the four competitive strokes, including learning butterfly over 12-25m. With a strong focus on maintaining technique in addition to increasing fitness, this introductory squad aims to provide swimmers with a sound basis in skills for either a competitive or recreational swimming pathway with UWA or its affiliated aquatic clubs.
Older Swimmer Stream (OS)
All children can participate in our Learn to Swim program, regardless of age. For those children who have started swimming later in life, or have taken a little longer to progress, the Older Swimmer and Older Swimmer Teenager streams group them with similar-age as well as similar-ability peers.

Please refer to our Aquatics FAQs for information regarding our programs and services.

Location

The UWA Learn to Swim Program is based at the UWA Aquatic Centre situated at the south end of The University of Western Australia's Perth campus.

UWA Aquatic Centre
Entrance 4, Parkway
Crawley

Visitor parking is available in front and rear of the centre, and free parking available in surrounding streets. 

Keep in touch

We upload all our photos to Facebook and Instagram. Follow us so you can keep up to date.

Contact us

If you have further queries, contact one of our UWA Aquatic Centre team members.