This FAQ section brings together the most common questions from coaches, clubs, Member Organisations, and industry partners to help you navigate the SANCF with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re a new coach entering the pathway, a club managing workforce requirements, or an organisation overseeing coach development, this resource provides straightforward answers to the topics you need to understand.
The FAQs cover the Australian Swim Coach Licence, the learning pathway, transition arrangements, compliance expectations, and how the SANCF applies across different coaching environments – including schools, clubs, and the wider aquatics industry. Each category is designed to help you quickly find the information most relevant to your role.
Explore the sections below to find simple, clear explanations that support your understanding of the SANCF and how it shapes coaching across Australia.
For Coaches
The SANCF is Australia’s national system for coach education, licencing, integrity, and ongoing development. Built in alignment to the SPLASH pillars, it provides a clear pathway for coaches – supporting their training, wellbeing, and progression from entry level through to advanced and performance coaching.
Australian Swim Coach Course (currently the Development Coach Course).
This includes:
- Online learning
- An in-person workshop
- Practical coaching experience
After the course, you activate your Australian Swim Coach Licence.
In your first year, you will be provisionally licenced, with extra support from the Coach Development Team and a discounted licence fee.
The Australian Swim Coach Licence is the national requirement to coach swimming in Australia. It confirms you meet essential standards for training, safeguarding, integrity, and conduct.
The licence:
- Confirms you are insured
- Provides you with real time access to your licence
- Recognises your professional standing
- Connects you to ongoing learning via SPLASH Hub
It ensures safe, consistent, and connected swim coaching across our country.
To enrol, you must:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Hold a Working with Children Check (or equivalent)
- Complete a Swimming Australia – endorsed prerequisite course
- Complete the relevant Sport Integrity Australia modules
With a valid Australian Swim Coach Licence, you can coach competitive swimmers in clubs, schools, and community environments within Australia.
Your licence demonstrates your ability to:
- Support technical skill development
- Create positive, safe swim coaching environments
- Coach effective swimming based on your training and experience
Further learning through SPLASH Hub helps you continue to grow.
The Australian Swim Coach Licence (Swimming Australia) is the mandatory requirement to coach swimming.
SCTA Membership (Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia) is an optional professional membership offering added support, networking and development opportunities. While not mandatory, Swimming Australia encourages coaches to consider a SCTA membership in addition to their Australian Swim Coach Licence.
Activation and renewal are completed through Swim Central – Learning and Licencing.
To activate:
- Go to Enrol in a Course
- Select your Licence Activation Course
- Process your payment
- Complete the two short e-learning modules
The whole process takes less than two hours each year.
To stay licenced, you must keep your compliance requirements up to date and complete annual professional learning.
Your transition depends on your current qualification:
Accredited Development, Advanced or Performance Coach
- Complete the Getting Started module
- Enrol into the Licence Activation Course (grey banner)
- Pay and complete the two modules
Foundation Coach or Swim Squad Fundamentals Coach
- Use your Coach ID to enrol into the Getting Started module
- Enrol into the FCSSF Licence Activation Course (orange banner)
- Pay and complete the two modules
- You have three years to upskill to the Development Coaching Course
Club Endorsed or Competitive Strokes Coach
- Complete the RED or GREEN registration form (depending on your background)
- Enrol into your corresponding Licence Activation Course
- Complete the two e-learning modules to become licenced
If you haven’t received your transition email, contact coaching@swimming.org.au.
All coaches must maintain:
- A valid Working with Children Check
- CPR qualification
- Completion of three Sport Integrity Australia modules
These requirements must remain current for your licence to stay valid.
Your licence connects you to:
- SPLASH Hub learning and resources
- National webinars and Q&A sessions
- Mentoring and practical coaching support
- Clear development pathways
- Simplified compliance and safeguarding processes
The SANCF ensures you are supported throughout your entire coaching journey – not just at entry.
For Member Organisations
The SANCF provides a single national system for coach education, licencing, integrity and ongoing development.
For Member Organisations, this means clearer standards, improved visibility of coaches operating in your state, and a more consistent approach to safeguarding and good governance. The SANCF, and the Australian Swim Coach Licence ensures every swim coach attending meets, club activities, or development opportunities is suitably trained, compliant, and supported under one unified national framework. While the SANCF strengthens national alignment, Member Organisations still play a key role in applying due diligence and maintaining best-practice risk management within their respective state-based swim coaching communities.
Swimming Australia will provide SSOs with visibility of coach licencing status, including:
- Current licenced Australian Swim Coaches
- Swim Coaches who are in their first year of coaching
- Swim Coach Licence Status information
This helps SSOs maintain safe, compliant pool deck environments and ensures swim coaches working in each state are equipped to meet national standards.
SSOs will be able to verify a coach’s licence status through nationally aligned processes, including:
- Requesting the Australian Swim Coach Licence for Event Accreditation
- All existing impersonation capabilities remain in place per the previous system, including the ability to view a licence – per the Australian Swim Coach Licence Terms and Conditions
- A licence verification on Swim Finder – in 2026
- Pool deck checks at events
- Reports available to download
Coaches can also present their digital licence, available in real time at any time.
The Australian Swim Coach Licence (Swimming Australia) is the mandatory requirement to coach swimming.
SCTA Membership (Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia) is an optional professional membership offering added support, networking and development opportunities. While not mandatory, Swimming Australia encourages coaches to consider a SCTA membership in addition to their Australian Swim Coach Licence.
SSOs can support clubs by:
- Sharing and referring communication and transition information provided by Swimming Australia
- Encouraging clubs to confirm all coaches activate and maintain a valid licence
- Guiding clubs through the new minimum standards
- Assisting volunteers and administrators to understand coach pathways and expectations
- Promoting the use of SPLASH Hub and national learning tools as a source for professional development and problem solving
The more aligned the messaging, the smoother the transition for clubs.
SSOs play an important role in helping districts and regions navigate change.
Support may include:
- Providing clear guidance on compliance and deck access
- Supporting regional clubs with seasonal coach discount applications
- Acting as a liaison between clubs and Swimming Australia and encouraging them to contact coaching@swimming.org.au
- Ensuring meet organisers understand new coach licencing requirements
A coordinated approach helps create consistency across the state.
All coaches complete the relevant Licence Activation Course in Swim Central.
The steps are simple:
- Log in to Swim Central – Learning and Licencing
- Enrol in the correct activation course
- Process the annual licence fee
- Complete two short e-learning modules
This activates the coach’s Australian Swim Coach Licence for 12 months. Renewal is completed annually.
Only coaches who hold a current Australian Swim Coach Licence will be permitted on pool deck at meets and sanctioned events.
Licenced coaches will have:
- Verified deck access
- Eligibility to sit in coaching areas
- Compliance recognised nationally
Unlicenced individuals cannot access coaching areas or fulfil coaching duties at events.
The SANCF supports safer, more consistent event operations.
For SSOs, this means:
- Clear national expectations for coach compliance
- Reduced ambiguity around who can access pool deck
- Stronger safeguarding measures
- Alignment between meet operations, coach standards and national policy
This creates a safer and more professionally governed competition environment.
Swimming Australia will provide a suite of resources to support SSOs, including:
- Transition guides and checklists
- Clear communication templates for clubs and districts
- Access to SPLASH Hub
- Webinars and information sessions
- Direct support from the Coach Development Team
These tools ensure SSOs are fully equipped to implement the SANCF smoothly and confidently.
For Clubs, Schools, and Employers
The SANCF sets national expectations for coach licencing, swim coach conduct, education and safeguarding.
For clubs, schools and swim businesses, this means greater clarity about who is qualified to coach, what compliance looks like, and how to create safe, consistent and well-supported swim coaching environments.
It also provides a clear pathway for coach development and helps standardise workforce expectations across Australia.
Yes. Swimming Australia strongly encourages clubs, schools, and employers to support swim coaches by covering the cost of their Australian Swim Coach Licence each year.
Engaging licenced coaches ensures your programs are safe, compliant, and aligned with national standards.
Swimming Australia strongly recommends that all job advertisements and coaching engagements clearly list the Australian Swim Coach Licence as a requirement. Please refer to the recruiting coaches’ section on our website for further information.
Licenced coaches have completed nationally recognised training in:
- Technical coaching standards
- Safeguarding and conduct
- Integrity requirements
- Professional learning through SPLASH Hub
As the SANCF continues to roll out, licenced coaches will also benefit from mentorship, best-practice coaching guidance and improved development pathways.
For organisations, this means:
- Safer and more consistent coaching
- Increased confidence for families, and participants – adding value to your programs
- Stronger attraction and retention of coaches
- Reduced administrative and compliance burden – while managing improve governance
Licenced coaches help create high-quality, positive experiences for swimmers and strengthen the overall professional standard of your program. Please ensure swim coaches include their Australian Swim Coach Licence as part of their resume, when reviewing employment applications.
These are different and do not replace one another.
- The Australian Swim Coach Licence (issued by Swimming Australia) is the mandatory national requirement to coach swimming in Australia.
- SCTA Membership is an optional professional membership that offers additional support, representation and development services.
Organisations may encourage coaches to hold both, depending on their workforce needs.
You can verify a coach’s licence through:
- Coach Finder on the Swimming Australia website (real-time verification) from 2026.
- A copy of the coach’s digital licence, which can be downloaded instantly from their Swim Central profile
If you have concerns about the validity of a licence, contact our Coach Development Team at coaching@swimming.org.au.
Existing coaches have an 11-week transition window to activate their licence:
12pm AEDT, Wednesday 3 December 2025 → 5pm AEDT, Wednesday 18 February 2026
Your organisation will receive detailed guidance on how each type of coach transitions based on their background and qualifications.
Coaches who do not yet meet the minimum requirement may need to complete an endorsement form before their licence can be activated.
Full guidance is available in the Clubs, Employers and Schools Transition Guide on the website.
The Australian Swim Coach Licence is designed to streamline safeguarding and compliance for clubs, schools, and employers.
A valid licence confirms the coach holds current:
- Working With Children Check
- CPR
- Sport Integrity Australia Annual Update
- SIA Child Safeguarding module
- SIA Anti-Doping module
While organisations still hold responsibility to conduct due diligence and maintain best-practice governance processes, the licence provides a simple and reliable way to verify swim coach workforce compliance.
Yes.
Swimming Australia provides a range of resources, including:
- Transition guides and checklists
- Website information and FAQs
- Step-by-step licencing support
- Access to the Coach Development Team – M-F, 9am – 5pm via coaching@swimming.org.au
More detailed guidance is available on the National Coaching Framework – Clubs, Employers and Schools page.
Supporting your coaches helps strengthen your entire program.
Helpful steps include:
- Covering the cost of the annual licence fee and in the process support their professional development
- Encouraging use of SPLASH Hub resources
- Request the licence for all recruitment processes
The annual licence fee is a low-cost investment in quality coaching, compliance and strong governance. Seasonal coaches may apply for a discount where they genuinely coach in a seasonal club for less than six consecutive months per year.
Not necessarily. Swimming Australia encourages clubs, schools, and employer organisations to refer to swim coaches as a recognised Australian Swim Coach, who holds an Australian Swim Coach Licence.
Role titles such as Head Coach, Assistant Coach, State Development coach etc. may stay the same, but the SANCF provides clearer expectations and minimum standards for each coaching role. It helps employers understand what skills and compliance a coach must meet, contributing to safer, more consistent and more professional coaching environments.
For Industry
The SANCF introduces a unified national standard for coach licencing, education, safeguarding and integrity.
For aquatic facilities and swim schools, this means clearer expectations around who is qualified to coach, improved oversight of coaching activity in your venue, and stronger alignment between coaching practice, risk management and swimmer safety.
Yes.
Any person delivering swim coaching – whether casual, volunteer, contractor or employee – must hold a valid Australian Swim Coach Licence. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine if a person is a swim coach or a swimming teacher. Please refer to our Swimming Australia Definition of an Australian Swim Coach Position on our website.
Facilities can verify a coach’s licence through:
- Coach Finder on the Swimming Australia website (real-time verification) in 2026.
- A coach’s digital licence, available instantly via their Swim Central profile
If you have concerns about a licence, contact coaching@swimming.org.au for support.
These are separate:
- The Australian Swim Coach Licence is the mandatory requirement to coach swimming in Australia, issued by Swimming Australia.
- SCTA Membership is an optional professional membership providing additional support, professional development and member services. While Swimming Australia encourages swim coaches to hold a SCTA membership, the SCTA membership does not replace the Australian Swim Coach Licence.
The SANCF strengthens risk management by ensuring every swim coach operating in your venue:
- Holds a current WWCC
- Maintains CPR
- Completes Sport Integrity Australia’s child safeguarding, anti-doping and annual update requirements
- Has completed national training
- Operates under clear conduct and professional standards
This creates safer pool deck environments and reduces organisational risk.
If a coach does not hold a valid licence, they cannot deliver coaching services.
Facilities should:
- Request to see a copy of the coach’s digital licence
- Direct the coach to activate their licence via Swim Central – Learning and Licencing.
- Contact the Swimming Australia Coach Development Team if guidance is needed
Allowing unlicenced coaching increases organisational liability and risk and undermines the purpose of the SANCF.
Swimming teacher qualifications (Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia, AUSTSWIM, or equivalent) cover learn-to-swim instruction, not competitive coaching.
Under the SANCF:
- Swimming Teachers are not considered coaches
- Swimming Teachers make excellent Swim Coaches – however, they must meet additional requirements and complete the relevant pathway courses if they transition into coaching
- Only coaches with a valid Australian Swim Coach Licence can deliver squad or competitive coaching
The SANCF helps clarify the differences between teaching and coaching to protect both swimmers and employers.
Swimming Australia provides:
- Coach verification tools
- Website FAQs and implementation resources
- Direct support from the Coach Development Team
These resources help facilities integrate SANCF standards smoothly and confidently.
Yes.
Facilities and swim schools are encouraged to cover licence fees as part of best-practice workforce support.
Benefits include:
- Stronger compliance and reduced risk
- Improved coach satisfaction, retention and professionalism
- A more stable and engaged coaching workforce
- Clear demonstration of organisational commitment to safety and quality
- A commitment to the development of your coaches
Supporting licencing reinforces a culture of professionalism and shared responsibility and reduces risk.
The SANCF enhances quality and retention by providing coaches with:
- A clear national pathway – easier to stay in the system.
- Ongoing learning and support through SPLASH Hub – less isolation, more connection
- Stronger safeguarding and wellbeing frameworks – tools in SPLASH hub support coaches
- Recognition of their skills, training and professionalism – enriching the experience
- A streamlined annual licencing and compliance process – faster, simpler, less administration
Well-supported coaches stay longer, perform better, and contribute to safer, more positive aquatic environments.
