1. What type of visa do I need?

Australian Working Holiday Visa

In order to undertake a Sport Lived coaching programme in Australia you will need to obtain an Australian Working Holiday Visa. UK citizens aged 18-30 are eligible for an Australian Working Holiday Visa which enables holders to live and work in Australia for up to 12 months.  It costs around £150 and can take up to 4 weeks to process so we recommend getting the paperwork sorted well in advance of your departure. For more information see the Travel & Visa section in the Need to Know area of our site.

2. Do I need to be an experienced coach?

No! To guarantee your coaching placement, you should obtain relevant coaching qualifications prior to departure. This will give you the necessary skills to plan and organise coaching sessions. In addition, gaining practical coaching experience will provide excellent preparation for your programme.

3. How much will I earn from my coaching work?

Rates of pay for coaching compare favourably to other forms of casual work in Australia. We can’t guarantee your rates in advance, but you can expect to earn £10-£12 per hour.

4. When will I find out full details of my programme e.g. who I will be coaching and where I will live?

Once you have submitted a booking form, we’ll start working behind the scenes to put everything in place for the perfect programme. Final payment is due 12 weeks prior to departure, and once received we can finalise your programme. Approximately 4 weeks before the start of your trip we will send details of your new address and flatmates in Oz, and information on the school or swimming centre at which you will be coaching.

Upon arrival in Australia, you’ll be introduced to the staff at your coaching placement who will assign you to a squad and let you know the days and times of your coaching work.

5. How can I find out more general information?

Hopefully, most key pieces of information are available on the website where you can download programme notes, prices and dates. Our Need to Know section also contains lots of useful information. If you have other questions or just want to have a chat, we’re always available either on the phone or via email.

We know that planning a trip overseas can be scary at times and there’s loads to think about. So don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need to discuss anything at all.

Working in Australia

You will be living close to lots of employment options like offices, shops, bars and restaurants.  Your Sport Lived mentor, and contacts made through your coaching placement, will be able to help you find extra work.

Overview

Our Australian swimming coaching placements last from 9, 10, 18 or 25 weeks. You’ll be working with a local Aussie school or club swimming team. On average, coaches can expect around 5-10 hours of paid work a week and, if you like, it is often possible to supplement this with work as an official.

Challenging

Coaches generally work with a swimming team for an entire school term helping to develop their skills and technique.  The structure of our programmes allows you to build a bond with your team and work on their development over a sustained period, which is highly rewarding. A Sport Lived coaching placement is also a great addition to your CV.  You’ll develop organisation, leadership and communication skills.  Having taken responsibility for a team of mini Aussies you’ll feel ready for anything!

Qualifications

In order to guarantee your Sport Lived swimming coaching programme, you’ll need to obtain an ASA Level 2 Teaching Swimming Qualification before you leave. We also recommend that you get as much as possible practical experience before your departure. Upon arrival in Australia we will arrange for you to attend a first aid course and an AustSwim Teacher of Swimming course where you will be exempt from certain modules. You will then be issued with an AustSwim qualification so you can teach swimming in Australia. 

If you’re unable to obtain an ASA Level 2 qualification before you join us please let us know. We can help you to enrol on a teaching swimming course when you arrive in Australia. Further details of how and where to obtain swimming coaching qualifications can be found at the ASA website.