On Tuesday 11 August 2026, every SwimSchooler has an opportunity to help governments see the true scale of Australia’s Learn to Swim workforce.
When Swim Teachers, Swim School Owners and aquatic teams use the recommended Census occupation title and ABS code that best reflects their primary role, thousands of individual responses become stronger national evidence. That evidence can support workforce planning, skills recognition, investment discussions, training priorities and more fact-driven policy for the communities we serve.
Across Australia, people performing the same work are often known by very different workplace job titles.
One organisation may employ a Swim Teacher, while another uses Learn to Swim Instructor. A person responsible for facility operations could be called a Centre Manager, Venue Manager, Aquatics Coordinator, Operations Manager or Duty Manager.
When these roles are entered differently in the Census, SwimSchoolers can become scattered across multiple occupation categories. This makes it harder to accurately demonstrate the size, diversity and importance of the workforce.
Consistent Census answers can turn thousands of individual SwimSchoolers into one visible national workforce.
Why our numbers matter
Governments rely on evidence when making decisions about workforce development, skills shortages, training, community services and future investment.
When the data does not clearly identify the people working across Swim Schools and aquatic facilities, governments have an incomplete picture. This can limit the strength of discussions about workforce needs, recognition, funding and policy.
More accurate Census data can help ASSA and our other representative bodies:
- demonstrate the size and community value of the Learn to Swim workforce
- identify workforce trends, shortages and emerging skill needs
- strengthen the case for greater government recognition and investment
- support advocacy for relevant occupations on National and State Skills Priority Lists
- inform workforce planning, education and professional development
- bring reliable evidence into government conversations
- show how many Australians are reached through Swim Schools and aquatic programs each year.
ASSA acknowledges the following aquatic bodies for their time and diligence in developing this comprehensive Workforce Guide:
The Australian Aquatic & Recreation Workforce Guide – 2026 Australian Census was developed by Aquatics and Recreation Victoria in consultation with Aquatic and Recreation Institute NSW, Aquatics and Recreation Queensland, LIWA Aquatics and Life Saving SA.
It provides recommended Census occupations and ABS codes for common roles across aquatic and recreation organisations.
Find your workplace job title, then use the recommended Census occupation and ABS code that best reflects your primary role. Share this chart with every member of your team before Census night.
Learn to Swim needs to be seen
The contribution of Swim Schools is increasingly important as access to school-based swimming and water safety education remains inconsistent.
Royal Life Saving Australia’s 2025 research found that 31 per cent of schools do not offer a learn to swim program. Among schools that do, the median time allocated is just 7.5 hours. The same research found that 48 per cent of Year 6 students were perceived by teachers as unable to swim 50 metres and tread water for two minutes.
These findings reinforce the scale of the responsibility carried by SwimSchoolers. Every week, Swim Schools provide structured lessons, develop essential swimming and water safety skills and support families across Australian communities.
The Census gives us an opportunity to ensure the workforce behind that work is visible.
“The 2026 Census gives every SwimSchooler a practical way to strengthen the evidence behind our advocacy. When our roles are recorded consistently, governments can better understand the scale of the workforce delivering Learn to Swim and water safety education across Australian communities. Better data gives ASSA and our partner organisations a stronger foundation for workforce planning, skills recognition, funding discussions and future policy.”
Luke Daly, ASSA CEO.
What Swim Schools should do
Before Census night, ASSA encourages every Swim School Owner and manager to:
- share the Workplace Job Title and ABS Code Recommendation Chart with all employees
- explain why consistent occupation reporting matters
- ask team members to find their current workplace job title on the chart
- encourage each person to use the recommended Census occupation and ABS code that best reflects their primary role
- include casual, part-time and full-time employees in these communications.
For a Swim Teacher, the guide recommends:
Recommended Census occupation: Swimming and Water Safety Teacher
ABS code: 462442Swim School Owners and team members who perform several duties should select the recommended occupation that most accurately reflects their primary role.
A few minutes can strengthen years of advocacy
Completing one Census response may feel like a small individual action. When SwimSchoolers across Australia take the same consistent approach, those responses can build a clearer and more credible picture of our national workforce.
Our numbers matter.
They represent qualified people, sustainable careers, essential services and millions of lessons that help Australians become safer and more confident in the water.
On Tuesday 11 August, let us make every SwimSchooler count.
