To become an assistant water safety instructor with the department, you must do the following.

Complete the forms

Complete the following checklist and forms electronically, or print and complete:

• water safety application form (PDF 279 KB)
• employment declaration form VL233 (PDF 575 KB) .

Provide evidence of eligibility and qualifications

To become an assistant water safety instructor at a pool

You must provide evidence that you are at least 16 years old.

You must also provide evidence that you have completed:

• the current and appropriate Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care (RRHAN-EC) training
• a working with children check (renewed every 5 years)
• provide first aid (HLTAID011) training (renewed every 3 years)
• provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (HLTAID009) training (renewed every year)
• asthma first aid training (renewed every 3 years)
• Austswim 2 day face-to-face workshop incorporating structured theory sessions, practical instruction and assessment activities.

To become an assistant water safety instructor for aquatics and surf

You must provide evidence that you are at least 16 years old.

You must also provide evidence that you have completed:

• the current and appropriate Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care (RRHAN-EC) training
• a working with children check (renewed every 5 years)
• provide first aid (HLTAID011) training (renewed every 3 years)
• provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (HLTAID009) training (renewed every year)
• asthma first aid training (renewed every 3 years).
• Community Surf Rescue Certificate
• specific aquatics activity awards/qualifications as minimum for assistant instructors
  • Kayak Basic Skills Award – Paddle Australia
  • Canoe Basic Skills Award – Paddle Australia
  • Stand Up Paddle Award Basic Skills Award – Paddle Australia
  • water ski/kneeboarding – observer only, Community Coaching Essential Skills and National Power Boat Handling certification and boat licence
  • snorkelling completed the AUF Level 1 Ocean Snorkel Coach
  • Foundation Surf Coach (online component completion)
  • sailing – Start Sailing 1 or above Small Boat Sailing – Australian Sailing – Discover Sailing
  • windsurfing – Start Windsurfing 1 or above Windsurfing – Australian Sailing – Discover Sailing

Submit your application

Email your completed application to EducationSwimAquatics@sa.gov.au

or post to:

Water Safety Team
32 A Dew Street
Thebarton SA 5031

Application approval

Application processing may take up to 6 weeks.

Once your application has been approved, you'll receive a letter informing you that you're eligible to work as an assistant instructor or instructor. Once approved, contact the instructor in charge at the centre(s) you want to be employed.

If you applied to be an assistant instructor you can now apply to become a swimming, aquatics or surf education instructor.

You need to be at least 18 years old to be work as an instructor.