VacSwim frequently asked questions

VacSwim frequently asked questions

Assistance and frequently asked questions about our VacSwim programs.

Online enrolment is an easy and convenient way of enrolling your children in VacSwim.

Choose the program and location that best suits your children, then enrol online.

If you are unable to enrol online (for example no credit card) you can complete a postal enrolment form.

You can cancel your children’s enrolment any time before the closing date and automatically receive a full refund to the credit card used to make the payment. Simply login to WAIVS with your username and cancel the enrolment. 

Requests for refunds after the online enrolment closing date will only be considered for medical reasons and when no lessons have been attended. 

If you wish to request a refund, please submit this in writing and include your receipt number and a medical certificate.  Requests must be received by no later than two weeks following the conclusion of the program in which your child is enrolled.  Any requests after this date will not be considered. 

Anyone with one of the following concession cards:

  • Companion Card
  • Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
  • Department of Veterans' Affairs – Gold, White or Orange
  • Health Care Card
  • Out of State Seniors Card
  • Pensioner Concession Card
  • State Concession Card
  • WA Seniors Card.

Transfers can only be facilitated if within the same program, provided there is a vacancy at the venue you wish to transfer to.

Transfers cannot be actioned by the Swimming and Water Safety office.

Review the stages and awards and enrol your child in the stage that best describes their ability.

All children will be reviewed on the first day of lessons to confirm their placement in the appropriate stage. 

If your child will be completing Department of Education swimming lessons after the close of VacSwim enrolments (as in Interm Swimming or another VacSwim program) it is recommended that you anticipate your child passing and enrol them in the next higher stage.

Once successfully enrolled, you will receive an email notification of your children’s enrolment. The details will also appear in the ‘enrolments’ tab in the ‘current enrolments’ section on WAIVS.

It is possible to cancel your children’s enrolment or change location preferences or stages up to the enrolment closing date of the program.

If you do not receive email notification of your enrolment please contact VacSwim on 9402 6412 to confirm you have enrolled successfully.

Once enrolments have closed, lessons are scheduled for enrolled students. Notification of the location and lesson times will be emailed to you approximately two weeks before the start of each program. Please show a copy of this notification for identification purposes on the first day of lessons. This can either be a print out or an electronic version on your phone or tablet.

When you first register on WAIVS you will receive a unique login username and your details will be stored electronically for future programs. This will allow you to manage your enrolments online, including change of preferred location, stage or cancellation of enrolment before the enrolment closing date.

After the close of enrolments, stage changes may be made at the location during the advertised times listed in programs and locations.

 

We do our best to schedule lesson times for family members on each enrolment within the same timeslot or in consecutive timeslots.

When enrolling, each family is issued with a group ID number, which can be shared with friends or other family members you wish to attend with. They will then need to include this number on their enrolments.

Groups are limited to six children.

All requests to keep family and friends' lesson times together are considered and grouped children will be allocated as close together as possible. However, with a program of this size and complexity it is not always possible to meet every request.

If you wish to enrol children other than your immediate family, please contact us and we will make you a ‘family coordinator’. With this option activated in your account, you will be able to register the details of additional families.  

Simply complete the family contact and children’s details in the same way you did your own registration then select and purchase enrolments for each family separately.  Discounts will apply for families of three or more children.

Your email address will be used for all enrolment receipts and notifications you coordinate.

VacSwim lessons run both indoors and outdoors so we encourage all children to be sun smart:

  • slip on protective clothing
  • slop on SPF 30+ sunscreen
  • slap on a hat
  • seek shade
  • slide on some sunglasses.

Most swimming venues have policies requiring children to be supervised. Parents/carers are requested to be available during lessons in case of any emergency.

Where there are low enrolment numbers, a lack of suitably qualified staff or venue closure warrant the cancellation of a location, you will be allocated a place at your second preference.

VacSwim instructors are responsible only for those students directly involved in VacSwim while the lesson is running. Parents/caregivers are responsible for the duty of care of their children, so please ensure you are available during lessons in case of any emergency.

After enrolling online please telephone the VacSwim team on 9402 6412 quoting your online username (P number) to ensure suitable arrangements are in place for your child.

If enrolling by mail, please complete the enrolment form carefully including all information on any condition that may affect safe participation in VacSwim.

Where a child has been observed or is otherwise known to be subject to any condition which may affect his/her safety, the child will not be permitted to swim unless a medical certificate is produced by the child’s parents stating that it is safe to do so, or supervision is arranged making it safe for the child to do so. Where medical advice has been received stating that a child suffering from diabetes will require suitable supervision, a medical certificate is not required.

Lessons will be conducted between the times indicated alongside each centre in programs and locations. If you have a specific lesson time request you will need to email VacSwim after enrolling, but before the enrolment closing date, quoting your username and request. Whilst every effort will be made to accommodate requests, specific lesson times cannot be guaranteed. Refunds are not possible for unsuitable lesson times.

Note that higher stages at most surf centres will be held late morning in order to accommodate lower stages earlier in the day when conditions are calm.

Children attempting the same stage will be assigned to a lesson. However, at times it may be necessary to combine groups of more than one stage in the one lesson. Care will be taken to ensure children are taught according to their stage and ability level. To help choose your child’s stage, check the information in stages and awards.

VacSwim cannot guarantee a child will achieve an entire stage as a result of participating in the program. Parents should be aware that children progress at different rates and need to practise their skills.

Children in stages 1 to 9 will receive a progress report – the Swimming and Water/Surf Safety Continuum – indicating those skills and if a stage has been achieved. Children in stages 10 to 15 will receive a separate calm water/pool or surf/beach certificate.

Stage 16 (Bronze medallion) certificates are issued by Royal Life Saving WA and will be posted to successful students once processed.

Due to the large number of continuums/certificates not collected at the end of the program, it is not feasible to mail them out. Original copies of unclaimed continuums can be collected from VacSwim. Please telephone 9402 6412.

Contact VacSwim between 8.30am and 4.30pm from Monday to Friday on telephone 9402 6412 or email.

Please have your username (P number) ready if you have one.

A range of promotional resources are available for VacSwim: