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We are delighted to announce that the All Saints' Swim Club has been recognised at the Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA) Awards, receiving both the WA State Award and the National Award for Innovation for its Teen and Adolescent Swimming Program.

The award-winning initiative was developed by Learn to Swim Coordinator Kim McMinn, who identified a growing need among teenagers who had disengaged from swimming lessons.

"We recognised that the problem was not a lack of interest, motivation or ability among teenagers,” said Kim,

“The real barrier was that traditional learn-to-swim pathways were not designed with adolescent learners in mind. Existing programs expected teenagers to fit into children's classes rather than providing an environment that recognised their social, emotional and developmental needs."

The program only launched earlier this year but has already demonstrated strong demand for a dedicated pathway for teenage swimmers.

"The program launched at All Saints' College with seven enrolments and grew to 26 students by the end of its first 10-week term,” said Kim.

"One swimmer progressed from Beginner to Intermediate, three progressed from Intermediate to Advanced, and every Teen Intermediate swimmer achieved their first continuous 25-metre swim. In Teen Beginner, one student also completed their first independent 25-metre swim after initially taking two weeks to enter the water. The program also successfully re-engaged teenagers who had previously stopped swimming, including one student returning after a four-year break."

The challenge of providing suitable pathways for swimmers of different ages extends well beyond All Saints' College and Kim hopes the program will become a model for swim schools across Australia.

"Every swim school has teenagers who quietly disengage from learn-to-swim programs because they believe they are too old, have lost confidence or no longer feel comfortable learning alongside much younger children. Rather than accepting this as inevitable, we challenged ourselves to redesign the learning experience around adolescent learners,” said Kim,

"Importantly, this is not a model that relies on significant financial investment, specialist facilities or additional staffing. It was intentionally developed using existing teachers, pools, lesson structures and assessment systems, making it practical and achievable for swim schools of all sizes. The innovation lies in changing the learning experience, not the infrastructure.

"If adopted more broadly, dedicated adolescent pathways could significantly improve participation, retention and lifelong water safety outcomes. More teenagers would remain engaged in swimming, build confidence in and around the water, and progress into squads, Junior Lifeguard Club, Bronze Medallion, lifeguarding and swim teaching, strengthening both participation and the future workforce of the aquatic industry.

"Swim schools would also benefit through improved utilisation of existing facilities, increased enrolments and stronger learner retention. More importantly, this innovation challenges the way our industry thinks about adolescent learn-to-swim education. For too long, we have expected teenagers to fit into programs designed for children. We believe the better approach is to design programs around the learners we are trying to reach. The question is no longer whether teenagers can learn to swim. The question is whether we are prepared to provide them with a pathway designed specifically for them," added Kim.

Adding to this outstanding achievement, the Learn to Swim Program also received a Highly Commended award in Western Australia for Swim School Program of the Year. 

“These awards are a testament to the dedication, passion and professionalism of our entire Learn to Swim team. Every new program we introduce is only possible because of the incredible people who bring it to life each day, creating positive experiences and meaningful outcomes for every swimmer and family we support.” Kim said.

The Swim Club's vision is to ensure every swimmer, regardless of age or ability, feels welcome to build confidence and develop lifelong aquatic skills.

This recognition is a wonderful milestone for the All Saints' Swim Club and reflects the care, creativity and commitment that sits at the heart of the program. With new pathways helping more young people stay connected to swimming and build confidence in the water, it is an exciting time for swimming at All Saints'. The success of the Teen and Adolescent Swimming Program marks the beginning of a new chapter, one that will continue to create opportunities for swimmers of all ages and abilities to learn, grow and enjoy being part of our aquatic community.