Tara Murray
A shortage of swim teachers could leave swimmers high and dry, according to a local swim school.
Estela Micallef, who is the manager of AQUA Schools in Keilor Park, said since swim classes returned following COVID-19 there had been an influx of new students.
She said while there had initially been a number of new teachers looking for work at the Keilor Park and Sunbury AQUA schools, it had fallen away since.
“It has been so busy,” she said. “We haven’t been able to keep up with the demand.”
“Post COVID-19 there was a huge influx of teachers, but it has dried up a bit, nation-wide.
“We’re running classes seven mornings a week and five nights a week. Without extra swim teachers, some kids will miss out.
“Without teachers they miss out on skills and learn to swim safely. They’ve already missed out on so much due to COVID-19.”
Ms Micallef said the centre’s school holiday program was full and with more teachers and pool space could have been expanded.
Ms Micallef said teaching swimming was a highly flexible job, which suits people of all ages, with people able to work one day or several days a week.
She said the course to become a swim teaching wasn’t massively time-consuming, meaning teachers could be in the pool quickly after some training.
Anyone interested in teaching at Keilor Park can contact Estela, 0421 011 138, or for Sunbury inquiries contact Chelsea King on 0423 843 243.
