About Award Swim School

Our Philosophy & History

Participation in aquatic activities should be a happy learning experience for all children.
We believe every child should be encouraged in an individual way and every child should be taught at their individual level of readiness. Children must be able to learn at their own pace.
We are unique in our teaching methods and follow the philosophy and methodology introduced by Diny Van Dyk, an internationally recognized authority on Infant Aquatics. Our original staff members have 35 plus years’ experience in the industry, many of these years working directly with Diny Van Dyk.

Based on our philosophy we have developed a unique set of structured lessons specifically designed to enhance the progression of skills starting from early water experience in our 3-month infant program right through to advanced skill development in our Pre-Squad classes. As children progress through our program the master plan is evident no matter which area you commence.

All our teachers are Aust-swim qualified. Our teachers also complete intensive in-house training in our unique teaching methods and set lesson plans before being allocated their own classes.

In our program, it is standard practice for children to remain with the same teacher as they progress through our Infant & Toddler Program. The transition to a Preschool teacher occurs when children are emotionally and aquatically ready to move on to the next stage of their Learn to Swim journey.

We strongly believe swimming is a LIFE SKILL and is as important as the 3 R’s – it is an integral part of your child’s overall education. Learning to swim is a LONG-TERM commitment and is not something that can be learned or mastered in 1 or 2 terms of lessons.

Irrespective of their swimming ability, children are never safe when in and around water and must be under constant supervision at all times!

Management Team

Award Swim School is owned and operated by Margaret Ward and Lyn Ward.

We have a passion for teaching early aquatic education and take pride in creating a family environment for our staff and for our customers. Our dedicated and caring team also share our love of swimming and enjoy all the wonderful families and children we have the pleasure to teach.

Margaret

Margaret has worked in the Swimming Industry for over 35 years and her experience and knowledge is highly regarded, particularly her expertise in early infant aquatics. She has owned and operated her own successful swim schools since 1995 and opened Award Swim School in Mount Evelyn in October 2001.

Lyn

Lyn joined Award Swim School in 2004 and is now an integral part of the Teaching and Management team. Lyn has over 15 years’ experience teaching in Infant Aquatics and Young Primary children, as well as a key role in the General Management of the business.

Our Swimming Teachers

The teacher’s role is most important and the way we conduct our classes will influence a child’s attitude to water forever.

Our dedicated, caring and highly qualified AUST-SWIM teachers will give your children the best opportunity to learn. Each child is gently nurtured and given every opportunity to develop aquatic skills at their own pace to reach their full potential.

All our teachers have the qualification ”Austswim Teacher of Swimming”. Infant & Preschool teachers have also completed specialist courses in these areas. Extensive inhouse training is provided over and above the basic “Austswim” requirements before our teachers are allocated their own classes.

Regular participation in professional development courses and workshops provided by Swim Australia, ASSA, and the Learn to Swim industry ensures teaching skills are maintained and kept up to date with the latest Australian and International teaching practices.

Our Swimming Teachers will:

Provide the opportunity to learn skills, build confidence and be successful
Ensure each lesson is a positive enjoyable experience
Nurture physical and emotional development
Ensure children are challenged but not pushed beyond their capability.
Know how to recognize the signs of anxiety or stress and be alert to any nervousness or insecurity and know how to deal with these emotions.
Continually inform and guide parents.

Swimming should be a happy experience for every child. There should be no trauma associated with any swimming program especially with infants.