Frequently Asked Questions

What is Holiday Swim?

Holiday Swim is a Royal Life Saving Society South Australia initiative bringing affordable and educational swimming and water safety lessons to pools and inland waterway locations across Metro and Regional South Australia since the 1950’s. The aim of the program is to teach children critical lifesaving skills and basic swimming skills, to equip them with the knowledge to stay safe in, on and around the water.

Is Holiday Swim subsidised?

Holiday Swim is funded by Royal Life Saving South Australia. The aim of keeping the program affordable, is to reach families and communities that might otherwise miss out on the opportunity to participate in swimming lessons.

How much does the program cost?

The program fee for each site is $45.50. This includes five days of lessons.

Prices may vary slightly per site, as various sites charge an entry fee. Please read the details of the specific site enrolment to determine if entry fees are applicable.

Higher awards ( Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, Award of Merit, Distinction) have higher fees.

Why do some locations cost more than others?

Various locations add their entry fee to the enrolment, while others collect the entry fee on site throughout the program. Please contact our administration team for any location related questions.

Where do lessons take place?

Lessons are held in Swimming Pools, Lakes, and Beaches throughout South Australia. To find a suitable location throughout the December and January school holidays, head to our location page.

When can I enrol?

Enrolments will open shortly. To stay updated, follow our Facebook page.

What level is suitable for my child?

To determine the correct level for your child, please read our level guides. Alternatively, if your child has previously participated in a Swim and Survive program, please contact our administration team for assistance.

What if my child is in the wrong level?

Whilst we aim to place your child in the correct level at time of enrolment, this may not always be the case. The Instructor will assess the students on their first day and the Instructor in Charge will speak with you if any changes are required. Please note that we cannot guarantee the same lesson time if your child needs to change levels during the program. If you need to change your child’s level after time of booking and prior to the program, please contact our administration team.

Can I pick my lesson time?

Many locations will allow you to select your lesson time at the time of booking. Some other locations will allocate times to students closer to the program date. This is often due to the number of classes for each level varying from year to year, based on enrolled students. If you have any questions please contact our administration team.

How old do children need to be to participate in Holiday Swim?

Our levels commence from 6 months of age (Wonder) to 18 years of age (Higher Awards). Not every site will run the Wonder (6 month - 4 years), or Higher Awards (13-18 years). If you cannot find a suitable level for your desired location, please contact our administration team.

Can children use the pool after their lessons?

You will need to check if this is an option with pool staff.

Is there an additional cost for siblings or parents to use the pool?

It is likely there will be, however, this is best to check with the pool staff.

What happens if I am unable to make a lesson?

Your child can still participate in the program, however, we ask that you give the Instructor in Charge as much notice as possible.

What is your refund policy?

Program Cancellation: If a location's program is completely cancelled by Royal Life Saving Society SA for any reason you may request a full refund or transfer your children to an alternative location. If classes are cancelled due to extreme weather, natural disaster, National health pandemic or any other reason, they will be rescheduled where possible. If the program must be ceased after commencement of the program, a pro-rata proportion of the program fees may be refunded at the discretion of Management upon request.

Medical Refund Request: If a participant only attends 2 or fewer days of the program due to medical reasons, a refund of the program fees may be issued on a pro-rata basis. An administration fee of $5 per participant will be retained by Royal Life Saving SA, up to a maximum of $30 per parent/caregiver booking. A medical certificate and a copy of the booking receipt must be forwarded to Royal Life Saving Society SA no later than Friday 16th Jan 2026 via: PO BOX 8, North Adelaide or to holidayswim@royallifesavingsa.com.au.

Other Cancellations: Request for refunds due to any other reasons will only be accepted until 05/12/2025 for programs running in December 2025 and 17/12/2025 for programs running in January 2026. An administration fee of $5 per participant will be retained by Royal Life Saving SA. A copy of the booking receipt and a description of cancellation reason must be forwarded to Royal Life Saving Society SA via: PO BOX 8, North Adelaide or to   holidayswim@royallifesavingsa.com.au. Please note that class times are subject to change once online enrolments close, due to staffing or other late changes. Every effort is made to place participants in their preferred times. Non-preferred class times will not constitute a full refund.