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Swimming New Zealand provide free teacher PD

Water Skills for Life can be taught by school teachers in the pool and classroom. Teacher professional development is available free to schools which have school pools, for Water Skills for Life teacher training and poolside support.

Training is provided by Swimming New Zealand which has a team of educators available to visit your school.

Training workshops are conducted in group sessions after school or at a time convenient to teachers and then Educators come and support teachers as they begin their training with their students. Workshops are minimum two hours duration.

Contacts

Head of Education and Water Safety

Davin Bray. Phone 021 681 503

Email: Davin@swimming.org.nz

Auckland Education Advisor

Moe Richardson. Phone 021 804 326

Email: Moe@swimming.org.nz

South Auckland Education Advisor

Danielle Strom. Phone 021 249 3939

Email: danielle@swimming.org.nz

Waikato Education Advisor

Wendy Smith. Phone 029 770 5252

Email:wendy@swimming.org.nz

National Aquatic Education and Water Safety Manager and Hawke’s Bay Advisor

Karen Dalldorf. Phone 021 649 998

Email: karen@swimming.org.nz

Hawke’s Bay Advisor

Janette Murphy. Phone 027 788 1615

Email: janette@swimming.org.nz

Bay of Plenty Education Advisor

Karen Dalldorf. Phone 021 649 998

Email: karen@swimming.org.nz

Taranaki Education Advisor

Cecilie Elliott. Phone 021 278 2052

Email:cecilie@swimming.org.nz

Wellington Education Advisor

Lauren McLellan. Phone 021 284 3297

Email: lauren@swimming.org.nz

Christchurch Education Advisor

Jackie Mander. Phone 027 240 9627

Email: jackiem@swimming.org.nz

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Children learn these skills with Water Skills For Life

Click on each link to read about what's involved with each activity.

Water safety and awareness skills

Recognise an emergency for yourself or others. Know who to call for help and how
Know, understand and respect water safety rules, hazards and risks around the home, farm and around pools
Know, understand and respect water safety rules, hazards and risk in natural environments such as at the beach, offshore, river or lake.
Know, understand and respect water safety rules, hazards and risks for water activities such as swimming, water sports and boating
Know how and why t make safe decisions for yourself and others
Know how to recognise hypothermia and how to treat it

Getting in and out of the water

Get in and out of the water safely in any environment.
Perform this sequence with a buddy watching: check the depth of the water, check that the area is safe, jump into deep water, float on back for 1 minute to control breathing, return to edge and exit

Going under the water - Submersion

Get under water, open eyes and control breathing
Pick up an object from under the water
Dive from a horizontal position in the water and move underwater for a slow count to five

Floating on the water - Personal Buoyancy

Float, then regain feet
Control breathing while floating on back for at least 1 minute
Scull head-first and/or scull feet first for at least 3 minutes
Tread water for at least 3 minutes in deep water
Perform this sequence in deep water: correctly fit a lifejacket then tread water, scull, float or a mixture for 3 minutes while controlling breathing. Then return to edge and get out of the water
Perform this sequence for five minutes: signal for help while treading water, sculling, floating, or a mixture, and while controlling breathing

Rolling and turning in the water - Orientation

Horizontal rotation (front to back and back to front)
Horizontal to vertical rotation and vice versa (front or back to upright and return)
Vertical rotation (half rotation and full rotation) around the body’s vertical axis

What to do in an emergency - Safety of self and others

Float and signal for help with and without a flotation aid
Do a reach rescue and a throw rescue with a buddy
Perform this sequence: correctly fit a lifejacket, do a step entry into deep water, float in the H.E.L.P. position, then with a couple of buddies or a group form a huddle, return to edge and get out

Moving through the water - Propulsion

Move 15m non-stop, using any form of propulsion
Move through the water environments of all kinds (currents, waves, depth – in situ or simulated)
Move 50m and/or 3 minutes non-stop, confidently and competently – using any form of propulsion on their side, front, back, or a mixture
Move 100m and/or 5 minutes non-stop, confidently and competently – using any form of propulsion on their side, front, back, or a mixture

Click here for the directory to contact a Water Skills for Life instructor.