About Swimming Lessons
We believe that learning to swim and water safety is a vital life skill. It gives you access to a lifetime of water activities. Our motto is I SWIM SO I CAN.
Through our Swimming lessons at the Glen Eira Leisure we aim to pass on our love of swimming to all members of our program.
About Swimming lessons
Available for all age groups, our swimming lessons takes on a stepping-stone approach: small graded classes and recognition of an individual’s achievements. This ensures students learn with others at a similar level and progress as strokes and skills are completed.
Glen Eira Leisure Swim School is run as a membership which includes a weekly lesson and unlimited access to two aquatic facilities for the student and supervision adult.
GELSS membership at a glance:
- 48 weeks
- $23 per week
- $26 per week for adult classes
- Unlimited access to two aquatic facilities to practice new skills for child and supervising adult
Lessons Times
Lessons times are: (subject to availability)
- Monday to Friday between 9am - 12.30pm and between 4 - 7pm*
- Saturday and Sunday 8am- 3pm
- Lessons do not run on public holidays
- There are two breaks during the year when swimming lessons do not run - one week during Easter and three weeks over Christmas / New Year
- *infant lessons not available weekday afternoons
Free Assessment
Please come to GESAC or CMSP for a free swimming level assessment. Bookings are not required for assessments. Accompanying adult may need to be in the water with the child.
GESAC assessment hours:
- Weekdays: 9am - 1pm and 4pm - 6pm
- Weekends: 9am - 2.30pm
CMSP assessment hours:
- Weekdays: 9am - 12pm and 4pm - 7pm
- Weekends: 8:30am - 12:30pm
Assessments are not required for children under three.
Please note times vary on public holidays.
To join GELSS please call 9575 7105 or come into the centre to speak to one of our Swim School team.
Locations
As a Swim School member at Glen Eira Leisure, you get access to not just one, but two aquatic facilities!
Enjoy the flexibility of swimming during non-lesson times at both locations, perfect for extra practice or just some fun in the water.
Check out our two premier aquatic facilities to choose where you'd like to take your classes or enjoy a swim during non-lesson times!
Swimming Lessons for Infants
Conducted with a parent present in the water, these classes encourage children to develop water confidence.
Swimming lessons include:
- games, songs and routines
- water familiarisation
- safety skills
- swimming skills.
See our class levels page for more details on skills acquired in each level
Swimming Lessons for children (3 years plus)
Our caring and qualified teachers will help guide students through our structured levels at their own pace. Our swim school program is strongly technique based, with distances being kept short until children have mastered the essential skills and techniques.
Swimming lessons include:
- water familiarisation
- water safety skills
- stroke development.
See our class levels page for more details on skills acquired in each level
Swimming Lessons for Adults
It’s never too late to learn new skills — swimming is no different.
Our adult swimming lessons are structured to cater for individual needs and instructors will help you to learn at your own pace.
- $26 per week for adult classes
- Unlimited access to two aquatic facilities outside of lessons to practice skills (this includes access to the spa, steam room, traditional sauna and our infrared sauna)
Deaf-Friendly Swimming Lessons
GELSS is proud to be an endorsed Puggles Swim School! Puggles Swim is a program by Deaf Children Australia that makes water safety and swimming lessons more accessible to families with deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
We’ve already upskilled over 50 of our GELSS instructors and we're working towards every GELSS lesson being accessible to deaf or hard-of-hearing children.
If you want to enrol your child in a Puggles Swim lesson, please speak to a member of our Swim School team.
Taking a break / suspending lessons
If you need to take time off from Swimming lessons, you can suspend your membership.
You can suspend your membership up to eight weeks each calendar year.
This is made up of:
Four weeks of voluntary suspension
Four weeks of non-lesson period suspension (Christmas, Easter & Public Holidays)
Memberships are suspended in multiples of seven day blocks. (one full week) You do not have free access to the pools during your suspension week.
You must submit a suspension form if you wish to suspend your membership over the non-lesson period.
See terms and conditions for full details.
Swim school calendar 2025
GELSS guardian supervision rules
Our student's safety is the most important part of our swim school.
To make sure everyone is safe in and out of the water we ask for parents and guardians to follow these rules:
- Students aged five to 10 and under must be checked into lessons by a parent or guardian (over the age of 16)
- Students aged five to 10 and under must be collected (from their GEL Swim School instructor's class) by a parent or guardian at the end of every lesson.
- Children under the age of five who swim before and/or after their lessons must be accompanied in the water and be within arms reach, by a parent or guardian over the age of 16.
- Children under the age of 10 must be actively supervised by a parent/guardian at all times within the centre and while in the water.
- GEL follows Watch Around Water guidelines, which outline requirements for child supervision in an aquatic environment.
Please help support this policy and visit Life Saving Victoria website for more information about water safety
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many people will be in my class?
Stingray: Maximum 8 people
Level 1 to 4: Maximum 4 people
Level 5 to 6: Maximum 5 people
Level 7 to 8: Maximum 6 people
Level 9: Maximum 8 to 10 (depending on what pool your class is in)
At what age can my child start swimming lessons?
Your child can start their swimming journey in Stingray 1 as early as 6 months old!
Look at our different class levels
When can parents stop joining their child in the water during lessons?
Parents are no longer required to be in the water once their child reaches Level 1 Platypus (3 years old or older).
However, parents are required to join their child in the water for all Stingray classes (for children under 3 years old).
How long does it take to progress through each swim level?
Every child learns to swim at their own pace, and progress can vary for each individual.
For personalised advice on your child's development, please feel free to ask our friendly swim school staff.
What happens after completing Level 9?
Once you complete Level 9, our final swim school level, you have a few options to continue your swimming journey:
- Academy of Swimming – Advance your skills with specialised training.
- Aquatic or Junior Aquatic Membership – Enjoy unlimited access to two aquatic facilities for independent practice and fitness. (Includes spa,steam room and sauna access if you're 16 years and above)
Please ask our friendly swim school staff for guidance on the best option for you!
