Scroll down the page to find the information you need about the Y’s Learn to Swim program. The FAQs are broken into sections on booking swimming lessons, payments and vouchers, make-up lessons, changes and cancellations, levels and progression, what to expect, and getting ready for your swimming lesson.
Book to Learn to Swim at the Y in three easy steps.
A payment source for ongoing debits is required to complete your booking, even if you’re using a sports or swim voucher.
1 – Create your parent account in our Self-Service Portal (Click Here) You’ll create your parent/guardian account first, then add your child. Don’t worry – the system automatically links you to your child for payments and notifications.
2 – Complete the online swimming ability questionnaire to determine the appropriate level. When adding your child, you’ll be taken through a short swimming ability questionnaire. This questionnaire determines the most appropriate level for your child. The portal will automatically assign your child’s level and you will then see classes available for that level. If your child is between class levels, our Learn to Swim instructors can reassess and adjust as needed.
3 – Choose a class and enrol. Select the day and times that suit you from the class times shown. Set up your fortnightly direct debit and get ready to Learn to Swim at the Y. Your booking will start immediately and continues until you choose to cancel.
Nope! Our Learn To Swim lessons are year-round (44 weeks of the year) and your bookings will continue until you choose to cancel.
During our two seasonal breaks (June/July and December/January) no regular swimming lessons are delivered, and families are not charged. You do not need to suspend the lessons or re-enrol.
Keep an eye out for our special Holiday Intensive classes during these breaks.
When you add your child in our Self-Service Portal, you will complete a short questionnaire about their swimming ability. Based on your answers, the portal will automatically assign the correct level and only show you the appropriate classes.
If our Learn to Swim instructor believes your child should be in a different level, we will reassess in the first few lessons and make the change for you.
Yes, you can book multiple children to Learn to Swim at the Y.
To get started, first create your parent / guardian account in our Self-Service Portal. Then add your children and complete the swimming ability questionnaire for each child.
When you add your child in our Self-Service Portal, you will complete a short questionnaire about their swimming ability. Based on your answers, the portal will automatically assign the correct level and only show you the appropriate classes.
If you have more questions about our Learn to Swim days and times, get in touch with your local pool directly.
You sure will! All new Learn to Swim students will receive a scan tag on arrival for quick check-in each lesson.
No, we don’t offer trial or casual lessons, but we’ve made it quick and easy to join with no lock-in contracts, no start up fees and you can cancel anytime with 14 days’ notice.
Learn To Swim at the Y runs for 44 weeks each year. We have two seasonal breaks, the June/July NT School Holiday break and December/January over the Christmas and New Year period.
During the two seasonal breaks, no regular swimming lessons are delivered, and families are not charged. You do not need to suspend the lessons or re-enrol.
Keep an eye out for our special Holiday Intensive classes during these breaks.
No. Lessons are not delivered on public holidays, and families are not charged.
Learn to Swim classes are $22.00/class charged fortnightly via direct debit.
No start-up fees, lock-in contracts, cancellation penalties or need to re-enrol when advancing levels.
Your swimming lesson membership will be charged fortnightly until cancelled. Please note there is a 14-day notice period for cancellations.
Our Learn to Swim classes are processed as an ongoing fortnightly membership via direct debit.
When you book through our Self-Service Portal, you will provide payment details for an ongoing direct debit. Payments start immediately upon booking and are processed every two weeks.
At the Y, we have no joining fees, no lock-in contract, and no cancellation penalties. There is a 14-day notice period for cancellations.
At the Y, you can use the following vouchers to Learn to Swim:
Please note: Vouchers are applied in form of a credit and cannot be used upfront, it can take up to 10 business days to be applied to your account. You will still be required to provide direct debit details when you book.
Payments start immediately upon booking.
You can cancel anytime with 14 days’ notice. Cancellation must be submitted in writing. You cannot cancel through the Self-Service Portal.
We know that life can be unpredictable. That’s why we offer 12 make-up lessons within a 12-month period at no cost.
If you are unable to attend a swimming lesson, ‘register an absence’ through the Self-Service Portal and then book a ‘make-up lesson’ at a time that suits.
Make-Up Lesson Policy
How to register an absence (and receive a make-up credit)
*Please note our staff are happy to show/teach you in-person if you need a hand, however booking make-up lessons must be self-managed by parents.
How to use your make-up credit to book a make up lesson
*Please note our staff are happy to show/teach you in-person if you need a hand, however make-up lessons must be self-managed by parents.
Medical suspensions are available for students who are unable to attend 2 or more consecutive lessons. Medical suspensions must be arranged prior to the missed lesson in writing and be accompanied by a supporting medical certificate.
We will hold your spot for up to 6 weeks. Suspensions over 6 weeks will be removed from their class and re-enrolled into a suitable class with vacancy upon return.
To organise a medical suspension, talk to your local pool team
Class transfers can be organised through our Self-Service Portal.
Assessments are done every 6-8 weeks. Once all skills are achieved, the portal will notify parents to transfer to the next level.
Skill tracking and assessments are available in the Self-Service Portal.
Our national Learn to Swim curriculum has different levels for ages and skills. Learn more here.
If your child is under 3 and/or enrolled into one of our Babies & Toddlers Classes (Starfish, Periwinkle, Minnow) then a parent/guardian must be in the water for the lesson.
We recommend parents/guardians wear a tshirt while in the water to give children something to hold on to.
Infants are required to wear a swimming nappy. We generally have stock available at Customer Service if needed. Standard nappies are not permitted in the pool.
Yes. Children under 10 must have a parent available on deck.
Parents must hand over and collect their child directly from the teacher.
Infant classes (Starfish–Minnow) require a parent in the water.
Parents and guardians should stay close by, remain visible to the instructor, and be available immediately after class for handover.
Whilst The Y welcomes the capturing of your magic moments, the privacy of others must be respected.
For this reason we do not allow photos or videos to be taken on pool deck without prior arrangement and the following conditions:
Under no circumstances are cameras, video cameras or mobile phones to be used in change room areas.
Yes! A huge benefit of swimming with the Y is that our students receive a swimming membership whilst enrolled in lesson and can access any of the following locations outside of lesson times: Parap Swimming Pool, Casuarina Aquatic & Leisure Centre, Nightcliff Swimming Pool, and Katherine Aquatic Centre.
Come ready to swim, with bathers on. If you need to get changed on site, we have change rooms available. For swimming lessons, you will need bathers, towel, goggles. Parents, don’t forget you are in the water too if in our babies and toddlers program.
Infants are required to wear aqua nappies that are tight fitting around the thighs if they wear a standard nappy when not swimming. Standard nappies are not permitted in the pool. Aqua nappies are available for purchase at the Kiosk.
Goggles are not a compulsory part of our program, however we highly recommend children gain experience both with and without goggles.
They may appear insignificant but they can make a large difference to a child’s learning journey as they progress through swimming lessons. Most children who do not wear goggles close their eyes as they swim. This can lead to them becoming disorientated or preoccupied which makes them unable to focus on their stroke technique. We offer a great range of affordable youth goggles. Just ask at the kiosk for assistance.
Click here to read our Top 8 Tips for making your child’s first swimming lesson a positive experience.
