​​​​Meet Our Volunteers

I became involved in WSFL when I went to Vietnam in May 2012 where I assisted Tanya Carmont in teaching and training within the Swim Vietnam program. That was the start of my commitment to WSFL. My role is as a swim teacher and involvement in the swim program development team.

I am also on the committee as Secretary. What attracted me to the organisation was the volunteering in the learn to swim program at Collaroy rockpool and offering your skills is the best feeling ever. Knowing that you are helping someone to be safe in the water and enjoy the benefits of swimming.

What motivates me to continue is seeing the progression of a non-swimmer becoming a competent swimmer and being able to enjoy our water environment safely. The gratitude from our students is overwhelming – it makes it all worthwhile and very rewarding. Learning to swim and survive on the Northern Beaches is very important and a must for all those in the community. If I can help to teach and possibly prevent any drownings, that motivates me.

I joined Water Skills For Life  in 2012. I heard about the program and as a swimmer and a member
of a swimming group wanted to become a swim and water safety teacher and volunteer. I became a trainee with the program and became qualified.

I am currently the assistant treasurer of the organisation and a volunteer swim teachering assisting in both Collaroy Turtles and Tibetan Community swim programs I wanted to help new immigrants learn water safety. 

I have also travelled to Vietnam to see the impact we have had on the programs at Swim Vietnam and Aquatic Training School as well as part of the team who went to Santa Teresa in the Northern Territory to volunteer in the Remote Pool Program in October of 2022.

What attracted me also was that this was an important initiative in our local community. What motivates me to keep volunteering is seeing great results with non-English speaking people becoming good swimmers. Also, great coworkers it is so nice to work with a great team.

We are all part of the team, it is nice to be appreciated and watching all the students smile is my favorite part. It is a flexible “job” and the students are so appreciative of us assisting them in learning how to be safe in the water and watching non-swimmers being able to swim.  What I have you learnt from volunteering is that It is important to be reliable and it feels good to share knowledge.

I came to Australia in the 80's. Australia has given me the opportunity to achieve my career and to have a healthy and happy family. Now that I have achieved my personal goal, I would like to give something back to the community that nurtured me.
Volunteering for the WSFL began in 2015. The dedication and commitment of the volunteers in this organisation attracted me to stay and get involved in other aspects of their program. Teaching children to be safe in and around water environment is a rewarding experience I cherished.

I joined in February 2017 when I read about Tanya and the Collaroy Turtles in the SMH. I was a trainee and wentthrough the program and became a swim instructor. WSFL has given me the opportunity to be part of a volunteer group that provides free/low cost swimming lessons. I am motivated by the great teachers and students; learningnew skills.
Volunteering is a wonderful opportunity by sharing the pleasure of being able to swim and be safe in the water with the learners. The most rewarding experience is giving children the confidence to float and move through the water unsupported. What I have learnt from volunteering is to be happy to share my time and expertise for such a worthwhile organisation.

I’ve been with WSFL since it started, 2010. My role is a volunteer Swim Teacher. I’m also a part of the team tha thelps to develop the swim programs for WSFL and I’m one of the Social Media Administrators – creating content and photographing the programs that we run. I believe in the need to make swimming lessons and water safety accessible to all people, no matter their age, cultural background, or financial situation. WSFL does this. What motivates me to stay is that I love what WSFL offers the community. I continue to enjoy teaching people to swim and become safe around the water.

I believe that there is a principle in life about us being generous with what we have…with WSFL it’s the fact that I can give to the community a skill that I love; being able to swim, be safe & enjoy the water…I’m sure I get way more out of volunteering than I give.

The most rewarding experience is seeing adults who haven’t grown up around water, or who are scared (for any number of reasons), overcome these barriers and learn to swim. It is such a privilege to be a small part of their journey. What have you learned from volunteering is that I get waaaaaaaaaaaay more out of it than I give.

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I want to help improve my swimmers to become the best they can be. To watch my students, swim their personal best times breaking records at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games will be an absolute pleasure being their swim coach one day. It’s part of me because I am a swimmer and the more I dream the further I get. I joined Water Skills For Life in 2012 and they assisted me in getting qualified as a swim teacher. I am now a volunteer, swimming teacher and an assistant coach with the team. I was attracted to Water Skills for Life for participating in the Tibetan Swim Program. I am intrigued by the water safety skills that is able to save lives in a teamwork environment.

I stay involved because swimming is my passion and I always put in 100% effort being determined and committed. It is my sport; the pool is my home and the water are my friends. This motivates me to stay involved because I found something I love doing and I never give up.
I like being a volunteer. It gives me a chance to try something new and build a real sense of achievement. My
favourite part is seeing the students improve on their swimming drills and having fun. I appreciate meeting new people and being part of a wonderful community.

The most rewarding experience is the moment when I realise all the hard work, all my intense training for doing all those Saturday afternoon sessions are now worth it. It helped me gain experience, confidence and growth to become a better swimming instructor/coach.

What I have learned from volunteering is developing my knowledge on different swimming styles, techniques and work experience in the field. Learning how to the teach the Tibetan community from all age groups how to swim and about water safety.

I Joined in 2018 as a volunteer swim instructor and as an assistant to the attendance registration team. I was
interested in working with refugees - people who have gone through some the toughest conditions that life throwsat you. What attracted me to the charity is my love being in water. I was recently retired and had the swim instructor qualification.

I was looking for something that focused on the welcoming refuges. Water skills and safety was perfect! What motivates me to stay is the people we are teaching in all our programs and my favourite part is that I am learning all the time and improving my skills as swim teacher. 

The thing I have learnt most about volunteering is patience, having fun and working with people has its own rewards. It takes a bit of time, plus I have to keep up to date with cpr and teaching qualifications favourite part is meeting new people - the swimmers, their families and other volunteers.

My most rewarding experience to date would have to be Seeing young swimmers become water safe

I joined Water Skills For life in January 2024 as a trainee swim teacher as I had let my qualification lapse. It was so lovely to join the team and I now volunteer as swim teacher in their programs.
What attracted me to WSFL was I was keen to volunteer for WSFL so swimming and water safety can be available to a wide range of people, from all walks of life, to improve water safety for everyone. What motivates me stay involved with the charity is the drowning statistics each year are devastating, so it’s really important for people to share their time and skills so more children, families and friends are safe in the water and can enjoy spending time together in any aquatic environment.

To volunteer with WSFL and my favourite part is that It’s great seeing the joy on people’s faces when they increase their skills and enjoy being in the water. I also love the camaraderie of the other volunteers and the sense of purpose it provides. most rewarding experience to date is Seeing an adult swim the length of the pool for the first time is very rewarding! What I have learnt from volunteering is that Every little bit counts! I have been involved in many volunteer activities in the outdoor and disability sector, and whatever people can provide, whether it’s time, effort, money or kindness makes a difference for someone

I read about the Water Skills for Life program online and was impressed by the goals of the organisation. I met
Tanya and her team at Collaroy Rockpool one Sunday morning in 2022 and I have worked previously as a learn to swim teacher and was invited to join the team of Turtles and Water Skills For Life in December 2022 as a volunteer swimming teacher and haven't looked back!

My passion is helping the younger children develop a love of the water , or for some to overcome the fear of water , and helping them acquire basic aquatic safety skills. It is so rewarding to see the children grow in confidence in the water and see how they all work together as a team during the water safety sessions .

I have been impressed at the camaraderie between the teachers, the genuine warmth and respect between the teachers and families and seeing how they all work together to reach their goals.
Being part of an organisation with such worthwhile goals is a privilege, and a reminder that the benefits of
volunteering are there for all involved .

I joined water Skills For Life in their learn to swim program, Collaroy Turtles, as a primary school child with my
siblings and learnt to swim. I was then given the opportunity to become a trainee swim teacher in 2021 and
became qualified in 2022.

What attracted me to WSFL was after graduating the program, I was asked if I wanted to join and become a swim teacher. I thought I would be a fantastic opportunity to give back to WSFL after they dedicated their time and resources to helping me learn to swim and be able to be safe in the water.

What keeps me motivated is seeing our wonderful students progressing every session. I feel that volunteering is quite rewarding for anyone who decides to volunteer. It allows us to make a difference in the world, whether that difference is big or small.

Volunteering has shown me the importance of giving back. And I've learnt it takes dedication and passion to do what you do and share with others.

I joined Water Skills For Life in December of 2021. I assisted with the first swim camps at Forster on the NSW Mid North Coast. I currently work as a swim teacher in my local area, Forster Tuncurry and wanted to help as a
volunteer teaching water safety skills as well as learning to swim.

What attracted me to the charity was being able to volunteer in my community and overseas in less fortunate
countries which WSFL have done for many years in Vietnam and more recently in Cambodia.

My motivation is a sense/knowledge of contributing to the community as a volunteer. A couple of my favourite
parts are the children and seeing them progress and the comradery with other teachers and volunteers. All
experiences I have had so far have been my favourite.

I have learnt that every bit of volunteering/teaching improves a participants life and they have the skills to be safe in our aquatic environment. A skill for life.