To become an aquatics instructor with the Department for Education you must be at least 18 years old, and you must do the following things.

Complete the forms

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

• aquatics instructor checklist (PDF 159KB)
• water safety application form (PDF 717KB)
• health declaration (PDF 405KB) (must be witnessed by a Justice of the Peace)

Provide evidence of eligibility and qualifications

You must 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 (WWCC) (renewed every 5 years)
• basic emergency life support (BELS) or provide first aid training (renewed every 3 years)
• resuscitation training (renewed every year)
• asthma first aid training (renewed every 3 years)
• specific aquatics activity qualifications provided by the recognised providers (see below):
  • 1 course from the aquatics activity qualification A list
    or
  • 1 course from the aquatics activity qualification B list and 1 from the C list.

No other qualifications will be accepted.

If you don’t have these qualifications you could consider applying as an assistant instructor.

Aquatics qualification A list

Choose 1 from this list:

• canoeing / kayaking flat water instructor – Canoe SA (must be renewed every 3 years)
• water ski / kneeboarding  /wakeboarding instructor – Australian Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (must be renewed every 3 years)
• snorkelling ocean coach – Australian Underwater Federation (must be renewed every year)
• surfing level 1 coach – Surfing SA (must be renewed every 2 years)
• sailing basic skills instructor – Australian Sailing (must be renewed every year)
• windsurfing basic skills instructor – Australian Sailing (must be renewed every year).

Aquatics qualification B list

If you have 1 from this list you must also have 1 from the C list:

• canoeing/kayaking lifeguard instructor – Canoe SA (must be renewed every 3 years)
• National Power Boat Handling certification and boat licence – Australian Sailing
  • boat handling certification must be renewed every year
  • boat licences are for life.

Aquatics qualification C list

If you have 1 from this list you must also have 1 from the B list:

• AUSTSWIM – teacher of swimming & water safety – AUSTSWIM (must be renewed every 3 years)
• Surf Life SA training officer –  Surf Life Saving SA
• Surf Life SA surf coach level 1 – Surf Life Saving SA (must be renewed every 4 years)
• registered teacher – Department for Education (registration must be renewed every 3 years).

Submit your application

Completed applications should be sent to:

EducationSwimAquatics@sa.gov.au

or

Water Safety team
32A Dew Street
Thebarton SA 5031

Application approval

Application processing may take up to 6 weeks.

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