PENINSULA Leisure has set up a program to address what it calls an “industry-wide swim teacher shortage”.
COVID-19 lockdowns have forced many swim teachers into other jobs. At Frankston’s Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre, problems were compounded by the fact that workers were ineligible for Jobkeeper payments last year.
The Swim Teacher Active Recruitment Program has been set up by Peninsula Leisure. The organisation’s CEO Katherine Thom said “sadly, we are in the midst of our national swim teacher shortage. It’s hard to become a swim teacher – you need to fork out money to get qualified and then do in-water hours without income before you can land a job. With so few people entering the profession of swim teaching, we knew we had to reimagine our recruitment process in order to attract more quality teachers to PARC.”
“PARC Swim’s vision is that every child in Frankston can swim. Our new STAR Program means we can train more swim teachers, more quickly, and they can start earning income sooner. In turn, it means we can welcome more PARC Swim students and offer them greater choice in class times and days. It’s a win-win-win,” she said. “The PARC Swim STAR Program is open to the entire Frankston community and suits all walks of life – retirees looking to feel connected with the community, mums or dads looking for hours that suit their busy lifestyles, people who are studying and even those still at school with flexible hours on offer.”
The program covers the costs of swim teaching qualifications, around $600, and offers payment to prospective teachers for in-water training hours. Peninsula Leisure says that program participants “are also offered employment as a PARC Swim Teacher”.
Applications are open for the first intake of the free program. To find more information and apply visit parcfrankston.com.au/star-program