From competitive swimmer to inspiring instructor

Royal Life Saving WA swimming instructor Ben has always had a strong connection to the water as a competitive and club swimmer, and now he has turned that passion into a career.  

Ben has been a swimming instructor since early 2022 and recently took on the challenge of teaching Royal Life Saving WA’s multicultural lessons, working with both children and adults. 

Currently, he teaches with both Royal Life Saving WA and the City of Canning, working with a diverse range of students. Through his experience, language difficulties and fear of the water are the most common barriers to learning how to swim. 

“Both have proven to be a struggle but with lots of live demonstrations and visual aids, language has never been a true problem for very long. Fear of the water has always been a struggle to overcome for students, but by taking it slowly and lots of encouragement it becomes easier to overcome.” 

Passionate about making swimming education inclusive, Ben believes the industry is moving in the right direction but highlights the importance of having instructors who can connect with students from diverse backgrounds. 

"I think it's important to have relatable instructors, especially for students from impoverished backgrounds, as they can see someone, they either relate to or they can effectively communicate with, making their lessons more enjoyable and, at the end of the day, effective." 

In his three years teaching, Ben has learned a lot and is always adapting his lessons based on his students’ needs, and the things he has learned from his coworkers.  

"So much of my skills, drills and the way I work with students has been because of things I learned from watching more experienced teachers. Not being afraid to try that new drill I saw, even if I explain it badly and it looks a bit goofy. It eventually pays off.” 

For those considering a career in swim teaching, especially individuals from multicultural backgrounds, Ben's advice is simple.  

"Swim more, be as analytical of your own stroke as possible. If you can swim a stroke and understand how your body moves during it, it makes it easier to notice when students aren’t swimming like that. Experiment on yourself with drills to see if they work and teach what you want, don’t be afraid to try!" 

Interested in becoming a swim teacher? Learn more about how to get started at the link below.