At BlueFit Swimming, your child’s safety and skill development are our top priorities. That’s why our Learn to Swim program follows the National Swimming and Water Safety Framework - a nationwide approach to ensuring every Australian child develops essential swimming and water safety skills.

What’s the Framework About?

The Framework sets clear goals at key ages - 6, 12 and 17 - helping guide children through vital stages of aquatic education. It focuses on three core stages of learning:

Age 6: Fundamental Stage

• This is where confidence in the water begins, with fun and safe water experiences.
• By age 6 students should be at a Seahorse level to meet the minimum standard.
• If your child is 6 or older and not yet a Seahorse, we recommend taking on additional lessons per week to improve their progression and skills.

Age 12: Acquisition Stage

• Where children develop core strokes and safety behaviours.
• To meet the minimum standard at age 12 students should be in the Angelfish level. If your child is not yet an Angeldfish and in year 5 or 6, we strongly recommend atleast 2 lessons per week to ensure they do not fall behind this minimum standard.

Age 17: Application Stage

• Where swimmers build real-world skills for safe aquatic participation, including basic rescue and survival techniques. At age 17 students should be at the Shark level to meet this standard. Any child in high school that has not completed the Shark level in the learn to swim program should book into our Adolescent program. This program is designed specifically for teenagers to ensure they become confident, capable swimmers.

How BlueFit Swimming Supports Your Child

Our qualified instructors use structured lessons plans designed to help our students work towards the standard for swimming and water safety. Within each level we have a series of skills that progressively get harder as the student moves through the levels. With regular assessments and ongoing support, we’re here to help your child thrive in the water.

Don't beat yourself up

If your child is currently below the standard, don't beat yourself up. Swimming lessons are designed to help your child become safe and confident in the water. Just like school, it requires regular commitment, practice and time to improve. Some helpful tips to ensure your child progresses into a competent swimmer:

• Participate in regular swimming lessons: We know it can be hard with multiple activities on but ensuring you come along to your lesson each week is important to continue to see progression.
• Have multiple lessons per week: The easiest way to improve is to have more lesson time. Having lessons 2 or 3 times a week is hugely beneficial to your child's overall progression.
• Continue swimming throughout winter: Taking a break over Winter will hinder progress. Keep swimming in Winter to get swim ready for Summer!
• Practice, Practice, Practice: Make time to swim outside your lesson. The more you expose your child to the water, the more opportunity they have to practice the skills they are learning in their lesson.

Ready to see your child progress to the next level?
Chat with our swim school team or check their progress in the Parent Portal today.

Together, let’s build lifelong water safety skills - one stroke at a time!