I am writing to say a big 'thank you' to the team at S&S Academy. I enrolled my 2 children, aged 5 and 3, in the intensive holiday program at the start of the year. They had never received formal swimming lessons and I was very worried, due to my son's anxiety issues, that disaster would ensue! Well, I have been thrilled with the whole experience, and after completing their first term of weekly lessons, both James and Rose have grown in confidence and skill level.I attribute this success to the caring, positive and enthusiastic staff, who have always been happy to accommodate my son's needs and ensure he is guided through the levels and 'looked after'. In fact, swimming lessons seem to have improved his confidence and cognitive function in general, not just in the water. He is able to listen to instructions and take turns now, which are areas he has previously struggled in.

I would highly recommend S&S Academy to all parents. It is peace of mind to know that my children are well on their way to learning to swim, and as a bonus they really enjoy their lessons and are so proud of themselves.

Hi All,

We wanted to say a big thank you for all the effort you went to last week to mark the Olympic Games for the children.

Our boys (Eli and Angus) were absolutely thrilled to receive a medal and greatly enjoyed the presentation after their swimming lesson!

Thank you for continuing to make swimming fun for our children and giving them ambition to be their best.  When Eli grows up, he wants to compete in the Olympic Games (bless his heart!).  

Kind regards,

This is the first Holiday Program we have participated in.  We have found it a highly enjoyable experience. It has renewed my children’s love for swimming and I have noticed improvement in their skills, attitude to classes as well as their confidence and desire to improve.

Thank you very much to Lauren for recommending this program and to Steve for doing a great job as Desk Supervisor.

Thanks heaps

We are so happy with everyone at SSA.  All the staff are happy and cheerful.  Our kids have always been very timid of water, but not anymore.  In five days they have come so far, it’s amazing.  Katherine and Dionne made learning to swim fun and the kids have had a ball.  They had no confidence around water before coming to SSA, now they can’t wait to get in the pool.  They have raved about learning to swim, and we will now have our kids in swimming programs at SSA from now on.

A relative is thinking of moving to the Ballarat area, and asked me about swim schools in the area for his kids.  I recommended SSA to him straight away, and I would recommend SSA to anyone.  Our kids enjoy coming to SSA and that makes us happy.

Our kids love it at SSA, and we couldn’t ask for more than that.

Zara has shown extreme improvement at swimming.  She has been swimming for a while but never jump into the pool.  She does it now after the 5 day Intensive Program.  I am so impressed with the work SSA and teachers put towards our children.  Highly recommended.

Zara has built confidence being at SSA and I am thankful to SSA and team for helping.

I would also like to comment on “health”.  Zara has been to many swim centers coming back with ear infections and cold.  I have not had this issue with SSA.  So an extremely hygienic place.

“Absolutely love it”

We had Bernard start his familiarity with water at another facility close to home.  We are so happy to have Bernard change to this place as he is really enjoying himself with your fantastic teachers.  He has improved so much and we will be continuing to have him go to lessons here.  I will be passing on out good experience to others.

Well done and a big thank you.

I never thought we'd get Dyami to participate in swimming lessons. It was a nightmare, initially he just wouldn't have a bar of it, crying hysterically, we couldn't peel him off either myself or my husband to get him into the water. I just wanted to give up because it seemed hopeless, and I didn't want to put him or myself through anymore stress.

We then took a different approach and put him in private lessons before going into a group setting. He was a little tentative at first, but now he's fine. I'm so glad we persisted, I can't explain what a relief it is, and how good it has been for his confidence. He is so proud of himself. His instructor has been so well matched for him and the gradual process worked so well. We now have a little boy who is happy about going to swimming lessons, loves his instructor and enjoys swimming with a group.

Thanks SSA

The O'Neill family 'love' learning to swim at the Swim and Survival Academy as it feels like the 'red carpet' has been rolled out for us. As individuals it seems like we are being 'watched' & never do we become stagnant in our swimming. We are encouraged at every level.

Thanks SSA

Dear Rob and Julie,

We are writing to say thank you for the wonderful job that your centre has done with our little boy. Jacob is six years old and up until 6 months ago was afraid of the water, would not put his head in the water let alone let go of the side of the pool. We decided to send Jacob along to swim lessons and it has been one of the best decisions that my husband and I have made.

After only 2 terms with your school Jacob is a totally diferent boy when it comes to swimming. He loves going to the pool and showing us all the things he has learned and not only that he can also swim 25 metres unaided, which to us is such a great achievement. We must really commend you and your dedicated staff who make swimming not only a learning experience but great fun for the kids as well.

John and I were so impressed with your centre that we also enrolled out three year old daughter Alexandra, she has being going to swim lessons for 2 terms and just loves it.

We highly recommend your centre to anyone wanting to give their children a head start with water safety or just for some good fun.

"Sebastian swims at the Swim and Survival Academy because of the wonderful progress we continue to see in his swimming every week, no matter what the weather is like outside"

"To the SWIM AND SURVIVAL ACADEMY,

Just a quick note to say thanks for all the work you have done with Brock over the past term and the school holidays.

Brock has certainly come a long way in the water. I could never have imagined that he would blow bubbles or voluntarily kick his legs in the water.

Brock was enrolled at a different centre previously and used to be in such a state that he would run out of the centre and onto the road trying to escape lessons. They put him in the "too hard" basket and told me to try again in a couple of terms. So as you can appreciate we are deeply grateful for the work you have all put in with Brock.

The height of his progress was obvious to me on the last weekend. I took the boys to Warrnambool. It was too cold for the beach, but we did visit the indoor pool facility there. Brock was actually excited to go! He hoped in the program and "fun" pool with no encouragement at all. He had a ball- for the first time playing with his brothers in the water and chasing them through the water of the pool. He even left the side of the pool and kicked on a kickboard. And blew bubbles.

I know the lessons with Brock have been demanding on you all, but you have all treated him with such patience and perseverance that I felt it must be acknowledged. Without you guys he wouldn't be as happy to in the water as he is. So thank you.

Kind regards

Our 7 year old son Jack Kent took one term of introductory swimming lessons with you at the end of last year. Jack's grandfather died on New Years Day and the family went to Ceduna in South Australia for the service. On the way home we stayed at a beach side resort on Glenelg Beach.

Being from Ballarat our family took to the beach even though the wind was up for a bit. For the uninitiated (as we were) Glenelg beach has two sand bars before the enticing breaking waves. Jack, being a pretty much typical 7 year old, pushed the boundaries and kept bouncing out to the big waves. We kept bringing him in. After a while playing on the beach in the sun, we were all pretty mellow and Jack said he was going to play in the wet sand.

When we looked up he was in the breaking waves out on the second sand bar, and the wind, waves and severe side ways rip had drifted him to the north of the beach area. We went to get him, but the rip was faster and before lon gthe sand bar had petered out into a deep pool where the water pushed along the beach, hit a breakwater (becoming deeper and faster) and then swung off shore. JAck got caught in the rip and in moments was not able to touch the sand beneath is feet. Amazingly Jack did not panic even when he was exhausted from dog paddling, and from getting mouthfulls of seawater.


He used his initiative and decided to keep swimming towards the breakwater rather than to shore. As we tried to get him we saw his head bobbing up and down, and when his head was down more than up I was shore I was seeing my son die. Jack paddled on and right out near the end of the breakwater he got to the rocks and hung on until we could get him. Jack was completely exhausted and had lacerations from the rocks, but he was alive. I am convinced that he was only moments away from drowning.

Thanks to the lessons you folks gave to him, and the way he learnt even basic floatation and paddling, it was enough to keep him alive. We thank God that we didn't have to bury our son as well as his grandfather.

Thank you again, I guess you as instructors never really know if the skills you teach the kids will save lives, but we know.

Jack will continue to have lessons with you, and we gladly let everyone know that your lessons saved his life.

Jack started lessons in winter, when it was rainy, cold and windy. When summer came, and it was good swimming weather, he had learnt enough of the basics to stay alive.

Hi Sally,

Maya, who turned three in November 09, was playing on the step to her uncles' pool in December 09. Her parents, Marcus and Ali, were watching her and her brother playing a few metres away when Maya slipped on the step into the main pool area. Maya started treading and kept her head above water, however the pool jets were gently pushing the water and Maya away from the edge.

Because of the jets pushing her out to the middle she was just out of arms length do her father had to wade in and pull her back to the edge.

During the whole incident, which lasted about 20 seconds Maya kept treading and kept her head above the water.

It was a great lesson for Maya and also proved to us as her parents that the many hours and dollars spent on swimming lessons at the Swim Survival Academy was paying off!

Thanks