Learn how to swim for your health and safety

Everyone can learn how to swim

RACV Club has an indoor swimming pool, children’s wading pool, and spa, sauna and steam room at each of its two properties: City Club at 501 Bourke Street in Melbourne’s CBD and Healesville Country Club & Resort in the Yarra Valley.

Both Fitness Centre swimming pools cater for all ages and skills levels, including lessons for babies, children and adults, and squad for competitive swimmers. There are also aqua aerobics classes, which offer a good cardiovascular workout.

All swim teachers are AUSTSWIM accredited and can assist you to reach your goals – whether you want to learn basic water safety or fully master your swimming and diving techniques. Lifeguards are always on duty to assist with questions, special-needs access and provide pool equipment and accessories for your enjoyment.

Even if you didn’t learn to swim as a child, you can learn as an adult. It’s also important to refresh your skills if you’ve had a break from swimming.

Swimming can boost your wellbeing

Mental health boost

Swimming can help release endorphins, which boosts your mood and alleviates stress. Like yoga, swimming can be used to relax and practice mindfulness. “I think about things as I swim, and I find that’s a mental release. You can enjoy the solitude,” Piatrow says.

Burning calories

Swimming increases your metabolism and helps you burn calories. It’s estimated that 30 minutes of steady swimming can burn between 200 and 350 calories.

In colder weather, your body burns more calories to keep you warm, which is why you can feel exhausted when you get out of the pool. The key is to make sure you eat something healthy afterwards.

Perfect for all ages

Swimming is an activity for all ages. It’s also great for pregnant women. A UK study, The Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Swimming, found swimmers lived longer.

As you age you can have problems with arthritis or osteoporosis, and swimming is a low-impact exercise that doesn’t put too much load on the joints. You can gently exercise, and still get benefits.

Rehabilitation

Swimming aids recovery by building muscle strength and improving your range of motion. A physiotherapist can give you exercises relevant to your injury.

Staying safe around water

Swimming skills are critical to our safety and enjoyment of water activities. The Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report 2022 shows that 339 people drowned in Australian waterways last year.

Piatrow knows from personal experience that water safety skills are vital. “My brother nearly drowned in our backyard pool when he was two years old and I was about seven,” she says. “I had my back to him and heard a splash. He sunk halfway to the bottom of the pool, and I rushed to save him.”

She says this experience rammed home the importance of water safety, especially around children. “Drowning can happen very, very quickly – in about 20 seconds, and you don’t hear a child drown. They don’t make a noise; that’s the scary thing.”

Be aware of pool regulations

Learning how to swim is just one way to stay safe around water. The Royal Life Saving Society Australia recommends some level of supervision for all children under 15, from being in the pool and with arm’s reach for children under the age of 5, actively supervising from the water’s edge for those aged 5 to 10 years and regularly checking up on those aged 11 to 14 years.

If you have a pool at home or visit someone else’s home with a pool, be aware of the latest pool safety regulations. These swimming pool safety tips will help keep the whole family safe.

Once you're confident with your swimming, you can enjoy the best freshwater swimming holes in Victoria when the weather is warmer. Or if you dare, join one of Melbourne’s established iceberg clubs for a cold dip in the bay.

If you're going to the beach, stay safe by swimming between the flags and follow Surf Life Saving Australia's advice on how to avoid getting caught in a rip.