Frequently Asked Questions about AUSTSWIM Professional Development

1. Why is Professional Development (PD) important for AUSTSWIM teachers?

Professional Development is crucial for AUSTSWIM teachers as it ensures they maintain and enhance their knowledge and skills in swimming and water safety education. AUSTSWIM requires teachers to complete 10 hours of PD to renew their licenses. This ongoing learning keeps teachers connected to current industry best practices, new teaching methodologies, and important areas like inclusivity and working with diverse learners, ultimately leading to more effective and safer swimming lessons.

2. What types of activities qualify as Professional Development for AUSTSWIM license renewal?

A wide range of formal and informal training activities can contribute to your PD hours. This includes attending industry conferences and events, completing AUSTSWIM license upskilling or extension courses, obtaining formal accreditations, engaging in online learning modules, and even the professional development gained through your daily experience as a swimming and water safety teacher within a swim school or aquatic facility.

3. Does AUSTSWIM offer its own Professional Development opportunities?

Yes, AUSTSWIM provides a variety of professional development modules designed to help swimming and water safety teachers further their careers and stay current with industry trends. These online modules are often exclusive offers for current AUSTSWIM license holders but are also accessible to other swimming and water safety teachers in the industry.

4. What are some specific Professional Development courses currently offered by AUSTSWIM?

AUSTSWIM currently offers courses such as "Managing Learn to Swim Classes with Neurodivergent Students" and "Inclusivity and Managing Challenging Behaviours." These courses aim to equip teachers with specific skills and understanding in key areas, such as adapting teaching strategies for neurodiverse learners and effectively managing diverse abilities and challenging behaviors in the classroom.

5. Who can enroll in AUSTSWIM's Professional Development courses?

AUSTSWIM's Professional Development opportunities are open to both AUSTSWIM-licensed teachers and other swimming and water safety teachers in the industry. While exclusive pricing may be available for current AUSTSWIM license holders, the courses are designed to benefit a broad range of professionals in the aquatic education sector.

6. How many Professional Development hours are awarded upon completion of the new AUSTSWIM courses?

Upon successful completion of both the "Managing Learn to Swim Classes with Neurodivergent Students" and the "Inclusivity and Managing Challenging Behaviours" courses, participants receive a Certificate of Completion that can be used as evidence for 3 hours of Professional Development towards their AUSTSWIM license renewal.

7. How do I enroll in AUSTSWIM's Professional Development courses?

To enroll in an AUSTSWIM Professional Development course, you need to access the online enrolment form through the Streamline Dashboard. New users will need to sign up with their full name to create an account, while existing users can log in directly. There are specific buttons for "AUSTSWIM TEACHER" and "NON-AUSTSWIM TEACHER" to direct you to the appropriate enrolment process.