For Swim Schools

Water Skills for Life is a learning programme for students in Years 1 – 8. Read about the programme here.

Swim teachers can learn to deliver Water Skills for Life through training with Swimming New Zealand. Contact Davin Bray, Swimming New Zealand’s Head of Educaation and Water Safety to discuss yours and your staff training in Water Skills for Life now. Email Davin on davin@swimming.org.nz

Water Safety New Zealand funds some swim schools to deliver Water Skills for Life to students, primarily at schools which don't have a school pool. This delivery should be conducted at your local aquatic centre.

The Water Safety New Zealand funding round opens in April every year and you can make an application up to mid to late May. Look out for details about the Water Safety New Zealand funding round here.

For those swim schools delivering Water Skills for Life, please reference the programme and learning plans here.

Recording student achievements is a requirement of funding. Water Safety New Zealand staff can assist by providing you and your swim school login access to the Water Skills for Life Database. Click on the links below to access the database and User Guide.

Contact Felicity Fozard at Water Safety New Zealand - Felicity@watersafety.org.nz

Database User Guide

Access the Water Skills For Life Database

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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