An introduction for parent and baby to water and safety skills through games, singing and playing with toys. Tadpoles is designed to develop awareness and confidence in the water. Infants learn skills such as breath control, blowing bubbles, kicking, and floating in a relaxed and supportive environment. Parent participation is required.

Age: 4 months – 12 months
Instructor-Student Ratio: 1:6
Lesson Duration: 30 minutes

A more structured class environment with an emphasis on developing the child’s body position in the water, and crucial survival skills. Children are also taught how to submerge themselves, initiate independent movements, and develop their kicking skills. Parent participation is required. Children will continue to maintain a development in breath control and propulsion.

Age: 12 months – 2 years
Instructor-Student Ratio: 1:6
Lesson Duration: 30 minutes

A continuation of the skills learnt in Frogs, Seahorses places a greater focus on the child gaining water independence, and learning to swim over greater distances. Children will be encouraged to follow instruction from teacher and work towards independence from parent. Parent participation is required. Children will continue to maintain a development in breath control and propulsion.

Age: 2-3 years
Instructor-Student Ratio: 1:6
Lesson Duration: 30 minutes

Ideal for children with little-to-no swimming experience, Turtles is a calm and relaxed environment for kids who may have a fear of water, or separation anxiety. Turtles helps children develop their kicking and floating abilities, and introduces important skills such as streamline, submersion and safe entries and exits. Children will continue to maintain a development in breath control and propulsion.

Age: 3+ years (children with no swimming experience)
Instructor-Student Ratio: 1:3
Lesson Duration: 30 minutes

In Starfish, children are taught to extend their streamline, and kick on their back without assistance. Basic freestyle skills are also introduced. Children feel comfortable and have developed confidence in the water. Students will maintain water safety skills such as floating, safe entries and exits along with gaining treading water skills.

Age: 3+ years (children with 12 months’ swimming experience)
Instructor-Student Ratio: 1:3
Lesson Duration: 30 minutes

In Octopus, children continue to develop their freestyle and breathing skills, while also beginning to perform backstroke. Kids are also taught to coordinate a smooth, continuous stroke. Children should know and comply with water safety rules and will begin to gain skills such as treading water and confident prone and back propulsion.

Age: Ability-assessed
Instructor-Student Ratio: 1:4
Lesson Duration: 30 minutes

The first of our stroke development-focused Learn-to-Swim classes, Crocodiles is designed to help children further develop their freestyle and backstroke skills, and refine their technique. In this level, kids are also introduced to the breaststroke kick, and taught to swim over greater distances. Children in this level will be very confident and comfortable in deep water. They will learn water safety skills such as treading water, floating and sculling to maintain safe breathing in deep water.

Age: Ability-assessed
Instructor-Student Ratio: 1:5
Lesson Duration: 30 minutes

In Stingrays, the focus is on children honing their freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke technique. Kids are also introduced to advanced diving skills. Children in this level will be very confident and comfortable in deep water. They will learn water safety skills such as treading water, floating and sculling to maintain safe breathing in deep water.

Age: Ability-assessed
Instructor-Student Ratio: 1:6
Lesson Duration: 45 minutes

An hour-long class, similar to a mini-squad session, Barracudas includes drills that improve technique over distances up to 50m. Competitive skills, like tumble turns and dives, are further developed, along with a complete butterfly stroke. Students still maintain safe breathing and water safety skills such as treading water, floats and sculling.

Students are required to bring the following equipment: water bottle, cap, googles, kickboard, flippers and pool buoy.

Age: Ability-assessed
Instructor-Student Ratio: 1:10
Lesson Duration: 60 minutes

Swordfish introduces competitive skills and stroke technique drills over longer distances. Medley competitive skills, such as starts, turns and finishes are also developed, ensuring technique is maintained and pace increased over longer distances. Students also still reiterate water safety skills such as treading water, floating, sculling in deep water.

Students are required to bring the following equipment: water bottle, cap, googles, kickboard, flippers and pool buoy.

Age: Ability-assessed
Instructor-Student Ratio: 1:10
Lesson Duration: 75 minutes

UQ Sport Can Swim aims to assist individuals to achieve their swimming potential, improve water safety and other skills such as coordination, strength, endurance and self-esteem, which can then be transferred to activities outside of the pool.

The program caters for children and adults with a range of disabilities and offers assistance beyond that which is supplied in mainstream classes.

UQ Sport Can Swim is tailored to meet the needs of individuals with physical, psychological and intellectual disabilities.

If you are interested in UQ Can Swim classes please contact the Learn-to-Swim Coordinator.