The swim teacher who left her office for a life in the pool

10am: When I started swim teaching I arranged my schedule around family. Now my kids are grown up I teach 18 classes a week. I’ve made it to the finals of the Austswim teacher of the year twice, and I mentor our younger teachers and help them progress.

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Sometimes I run into past students who are now adults. There was one girl I taught early on in my career where I also ended up teaching her kids! I hope that all my kids leave my classes with a lifelong love of water and the knowledge to be safe around water, wherever they are.

11am: Before I finish a morning shift, I need to clean up the pool deck. I check no toys are stuck in the filters, vacuum the pool, and clean filter baskets, wipe down ladders and the pool edge. I also check with desk staff that any changes to my classes have been made for next week.

Then I’m either off for the day, or have a short break before my afternoon shift. I’ll go home and tidy up and relax or spend time on our farm with my dogs.

3.40pm: After a few hours off, I get ready to open the centre at 3.45pm. More checks! I check chemical levels, confirm change areas and bathrooms are clean, and that class lists are ready, as I’m on a desk shift for a while.

We’re very family orientated here. Kids aren’t just a number, so we invest time in socialising and communicating with the kids and parents. On the desk I’m not only taking payments and arranging make-up classes, but assisting parents with questions about classes and their child’s progress or welcoming new members.

6pm: As well as being a Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety, I am qualified in Infant and Preschool Aquatics, a Teacher of Access and Inclusion and an Austswim Assessor. We have just introduced adult swim classes, which usually happen in the evening.

There are many different reasons people don’t learn to swim as a child. I’m really enjoying working with adults. So much of it is mental for them, and they often have embedded fears of the water.

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