Frequently Asked Questions

We welcome children from 4 months old for our baby classes, where parents accompany their children in the water. Our pre-school classes start from 2.5 years old, and school-age classes are available for children of all ages.

All children's swim classes are 30 minutes. Adult classes are 1 hour, and squad training sessions are 1 hour per week.

Yes — the first swimming lesson for children is free. This gives you and your child a chance to experience our teaching style and facilities before committing to regular lessons.

Beginner classes have a maximum of 4 students with the teacher in the water. Seals classes have a maximum of 6 students. Advanced classes (Sharks, Bronze, Silver) have a maximum of 6–8 students for personalised attention.

Swimming caps are compulsory for students in our pre-school, after school, and squad programs. Our babies and adults don't need to wear them.

There are several reasons for the compulsory caps rule. It keeps the swimmers' hair drier and warmer in winter. It keeps long hair out of the face when trying to breathe, which would otherwise inhibit learning. It also keeps our pools cleaner.

This is one of the questions we are asked most often, and it cannot be accurately answered. It depends on many factors — the age of the child when they first start lessons, their level of development and co-ordination, how often they attend lessons, and many others. It also depends on your definition of "swim".

Is it when they can tread water or float in deep water, or is it when they can swim 50 metres of all four strokes competently? On average it takes about 6 months to achieve each new level of our certificate system. We have 6 babies certificates and another 11 levels in our learn to swim program.

We use a structured certificate system with 6 babies certificates and 11 learn to swim levels from beginner to squad. Certificates inspire students and give parents clear feedback as skills develop.

Payment is as you go — no upfront fees or deposits. We accept cash, card, and direct debit.

Children's programs (weekly):

• 1 child: $26 per week
• 2 children: $25.50 each per week
• 3 children: $25 each per week

Baby program (twice per week, 8 lessons): 1 child $176 · 2nd child $168.

Adults:$30 per lesson (up to 6 per class).

Squad:$22 per session if still having lessons · $24 if not · half-price fee for a missed squad session.

Contact our office for the latest pricing or program-specific questions.

We have a very fair make-up system. This allows you to prepare for holidays, parties, or other family and school commitments. If for any reason you need to cancel a lesson you may — even with short notice — call us and arrange to reschedule to another time of your choosing within the next eight weeks.

Cancellation cut-off times: before 2:00pm for after school classes, before 10:30am for pre-school classes, and before 8:30am for Saturday classes.

If you choose not to reschedule, there is a half-price booking fee. If you cancel later than the cut-off time or you do not show up for a lesson, a full fee for that lesson is required. Outside working hours, messages for cancelled lessons may be left on the answering machine.

There are no make-up lessons for those in our squad, babies, or adult classes.

Yes — all children's classes include survival and water safety skills. Safety is integrated at every level, alongside technique and confidence.

Our teachers perform at least 60 hours of training with our trainer teachers (the industry minimum is 20 hours) before they get to teach their own class. The teachers have qualifications such as AUSTSWIM and/or Swim Australia Teacher of Swimming certification. They are all trained in CPR.

We are a family-run, award-winning swim school with over 30 years in Hoppers Crossing — including ASSA National Swim School of the Year 2024. We are not a big chain: we know our families personally, keep class sizes small, and use qualified instructors with a proven 11-level certificate program.