SWIM AUSTRALIA TEACHER COURSE 

• Completion of a CD Rom prior to the course,
• One session observations at a registered swim school prior to the course at a registered Swim School
• Full day practical course
• Pratical on the job shadow teaching at a registered Swim School, approx 25 - 30 hours or until considered competent

FAQs re the Swim Australia^TM Teacher (SAT) accreditation qualification

FAQs Section 1:  The basics

Q. Does the SAT qualification allow the teacher to deliver GST free ‘swimming, water safety, and personal survival skills lessons'?

A. YES. The SAT qualification contains all the competencies required* by the Federal Government for this.

Q. Can I obtain Professional Indemnity Insurance with the SAT qualification?

A. YES.  Teachers may join ascta to take advantage of ASCTA-Marsh Insurance Broker's low cost insurance, call  1300 305 575 for insurance advice.  ASCTA-Marsh issues a policy in the name of the teacher including both $10M public liability and $10M professional indemnity limits.  The SAT qualification is recognised by ASCTA-Marsh for Swim School's Public Liability Insurance.

Q. Why isn't CPR required as part of the SAT qualification course?

A. Federal Government approved vocational competencies for Swim Teachers do not include CPR.  A similar situation has existed for many years with swimming coaching accreditation.  The SAT qualifications must be renewed every four years, but all CPR qualifications (regardless of the training provider) must be renewed annually.  CPR is recognised by ascta as an essential skill and component of one's risk management strategy.  In essence, annual renewal of CPR competency is a workplace safety decision.  Some Swim Schools may require it - others not - depending on their risk management plan.  It makes sense to keep them separate - thus not falling into the dangerous trap of assuming that CPR is current just because one's teaching qualification hasn't reached its expiry date.

Q. Who recognises the SAT qualification?

A. The Federal Government!  Under the Federal Government's Vocational Training Act, competencies are established by the relevant industry training package; in this case the National Community Recreation Industry.  Competencies determine one's qualification and must be recognised by all government agencies and employers.  There are several organisations (ascta is one of them) that package the required vocational competencies into a qualification course. 

Of course the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ascta), as the owners of the course, are committed to maximising its recognition - as do its divisions Swim Australia and SwimEd.  The SAT qualification is endorsed by Swimming Australia Ltd. (SAL) - the governing body for the sport in Australia.  ascta is a Stakeholder in SAL; as are the State Swimming Associations and the Australian Swimmer's Association.

The International Federation of Swimming Teachers Associations (IFSTA) recognises the SAT qualification internationally.  This also provides for a unique relationship with other member organisations; for example, Teacher of Swimming Associations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States Swim Schools Association.  SAT qualification holders may apply for IFSTA recognition if they work in a member country.

Q. What else is special about the SAT course?

A. The SAT Course ‘theory component' is available on CD-ROM.  This gives the student access to video clips, colour photos, and hundreds of equivalent ‘pages' of text that a book or training manual could never match.  Self paced learning eliminates non-essential contact time and guides the student to acquiring the underpinning knowledge base.  The ‘contact component' (i.e. face-to-face instruction at an aquatic venue) of the course can be much more ‘hands on' because the theory has already been assessed.