CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERIES
ASSA and Western Sydney University have united to deliver the world’s first comprehensive Child Development Training Series designed specifically for Swim Schools and Learn to Swim Teachers. The next evolution of SwimSchooler education is here.
Bringing the science of child development to the heart of swim teaching.
Australia leads the world in learn-to-swim education. And now, for the first time, swim teachers anywhere on the planet can access the same high-quality, research-aligned professional development that underpins the Australian Swim Schools Association’s national standards.
Launching 15 January 2026, the ASSA + WSU Child Development Series for Swim Schools brings the latest developmental science directly to your pool deck – wherever you teach.
This 5-part webinar series will help you teach with deeper insight, stronger confidence and have an evidence-based understanding of how children learn in the water.
Because when teachers grow, children thrive.
A Global Learning Opportunity, Built in Australia, Designed for the World.
Why Swim Teachers Everywhere Need This Training
You already teach children to move, float, kick and breathe.
This series helps you understand how they grow, think, behave, regulate, explore, and learn – so every lesson becomes more effective, more connected, and more meaningful.
When educators understand child development, everything changes:
- Lessons become calmer and more responsive
- Behaviour becomes communication – not disruption
- Children show more confidence and less fear
- Motivation improves (especially for kids who struggle)
- Skills stick faster through developmentally aligned teaching
- Progress accelerates because learning is matched to readiness
- Families experience clearer communication and greater trust
This is not just about technique. It’s about understanding the child in front of you.
As ASSA CEO Luke Daly says:
“Understanding how children grow, think and feel in the water fundamentally shapes how we teach.
Every educator whether they’re in Sydney, Singapore or Seattle deserves evidence-based tools that help children thrive.”
Session Outlines
1.
How Children Grow, Think and Learn in the Water.
LENS: Developmental Milestones + Neuroplasticity + Learning Readiness.
Explore how children’s growth, movement, and brain development shape confidence, skill progression, and lesson readiness.
2.
Understanding Behaviour and Building Calm, Confident Swimmers.
LENS: Attachment Theory + Executive Function + Sensory Regulation.
Learn why behaviours appear in lessons, what drives them, and how to build calm, connected classes through understanding, not correction.
3.
Partnering with Families to Support Every Child’s Progress.
LENS: Family-Centred Practice + Motivational Communication.
Build stronger partnerships with parents through better conversations about readiness, effort, and achievement.
4.
The Power of Play: Inspiring Motivation and Emotional Safety in the Pool.
LENS: Play-Based Learning + Self-Determination Theory + Emotional Regulation.
Discover how purposeful play fosters motivation, joy, and resilience – and how to integrate it meaningfully into lessons.
5.
Designing Programs That Include, Engage and Inspire Every Child.
LENS: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) + Inclusive Education + Program Adaptation.
Learn how to design lesson structures that adapt to each child’s developmental stage and create environments where every swimmer can thrive.
Meet the Experts Behind the Series
Dr Nicole Peel
Tap to read on Mobile
Dr Nicole Peel
Senior Lecturer, Recreation Therapy
Western Sydney University
Specialist in paediatric development, aquatic therapy, inclusion and program design.
Nicole brings decades of academic and real-world aquatic experience, with recent research published in World Leisure Journal, International Review for the Sociology of Sport and Mental Health & Physical Activity.
Nicole brings a rich blend of practical wisdom and scholarly insight to child development in aquatic settings. Her approach is strengths-based and inclusive focusing on what children can do, how they learn best, and how swim programs can be tailored to support diverse developmental needs.
She has taught hundreds of children to swim, supported families through therapeutic aquatic programs, and led curriculum innovation across health and education sectors.
Dr Michelle O'Shea
Tap to read on Mobile
Dr Michelle O'Shea
Senior Lecturer, Sport & Community Participation
Western Sydney University
Scholar in gender equity, health access, surf lifesaving and inclusive sport environments
Nicole's work bridges the worlds of academia and active community service. Her research explores the intersections of work, education, health, and sport, with a strong commitment to dismantling systemic inequities and elevating marginalised voices. What sets Dr O’Shea apart is her deep engagement with aquatic environments and lifesaving communities.
Her contributions resonate with the goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda, particularly those focused on inclusive health and gender equality.
.
“Water should be a place of belonging. Developmentally informed teaching opens that door for more children.”
— Dr Michelle O’Shea
A Research-Driven Program Designed for Real-World Swim Teaching
This five-part series transforms complex child development science into simple, usable tools for the pool.
Lead facilitator Dr Nicole Peel explains it simply:
“When swim teachers recognise readiness, emotion and motivation, they teach with more clarity – and children learn with more confidence. It reduces anxiety, builds emotional safety and accelerates skill acquisition.”
Each 90-minute webinar explores:
Lessons become calmer and more responsive.
Behaviour becomes communication – not disruption.
Children show more confidence and less fear.
Motivation improves (especially for kids who struggle).
Skills stick faster through developmentally aligned teaching.
Progress accelerates because learning is matched to readiness.
Families experience clearer communication and greater trust.
This series elevates your teaching practice by helping you:
Understand the “why” behind behaviour
Read the signs of fear, overload or readiness
Build calm, confident and emotionally safe classes
Use purposeful play to enhance learning
Support neurodivergent learners more effectively
Communicate with families with clarity and confidence
Design inclusive programs that meet diverse needs.
These are the skills that distinguish good swimming teachers from truly exceptional educators … and they are now available to swim teachers everywhere.
No theory for theory’s sake. These sessions will offer powerful insights you can apply immediately in your next class.
Professional Development That Counts
While the driving purpose of this series is educator growth and child-centred excellence, participants will also receive:
- ASSA × Western Sydney University Certificate of Completion.
- Recognised PD hours. Up to 7.5 hours.
- Practical resources and tools.
This is your year:
To learn more deeply.
To teach more confidently.
To understand children more fully.
To elevate your program, your professionalism and your impact.
ASSA is the leading authority for swim schools in Australia – and a growing global reference point for excellence in aquatic education. This series represents the next step in shaping the future of child-centred swim teaching worldwide. Be one of the global educators to join the ASSA + WSU Child Development Series For Swim Schools.
