TRAINING & ACCREDITATION
Training to be a Swimming Official is managed by Swimming Australia. Swimming Australia has acquired the Swimming NSW Technical Officials training website, to help streamline the training of new officials and better support their learning nationwide.
If any officials experience any problems whilst doing their training modules in the interim, please contact officiating@swimming.org.au.
Before Your Accreditation: (3-Simple Steps)
In order to be an offical, you need to follow 3 easy steps:
1. Join a NSW Swimming Club
Go to Our Clubs to search for a Club near you.
If you are not already a Swimming Club Member, approach the Club Registrar at the Swimming Club, and join as a Non-swimming Member.
2. Apply for a Working With Children Check
Apply online for a Working With Children Check. This is free for volunteers. If you already have a WWCC number, you do not need to apply again. Under 18s do not need a WWCC number.
If you are 18 years of age or older, you will need a Working with Children Check from the Office of the Children’s Guardian. These are valid for 5 years. Many people in employment already have one. It has a number like: WWC1234567E. If you don’t have one, you can apply for a free volunteers WWCC. The volunteer’s number looks like: WWC1234567V.
3. Undertake the Essential Skills course: (this is a one-off course but mandatory!)
- Register or Login at the SwimAus Learning Centre
- Click on “Find Learning” and do a search for Essential Skills. This will show you the Community Officiating Essential Skills Course. This course is mandatory.
Save your Certificate as you will need this to prove completion of the Course.
START YOUR TRAINING!
Training can be done Online through Swimming NSW, or arranged by the Area’s Technical Swimming Coordinator as Face-to-Face Training in a class environment.
You are welcome to do the Technical Officials – Introduction Course:
Not mandatory, but advisable so you get an overview of the Officiating Process!
* to get an overview of all the units available to technical officials,
* some information about competency based training,
* and show you the pathway in the National Officiating Accreditation Program.
Introduction Course: (click to see drop down list)
Login to the: Swimming Australia Online Learning Portal
COMPETENT 😊
If you are given “Competent” you are now considered as having that Credential. The ATSC Convenor will forward all the necessary paperwork off to SNSW and eventually will be given a Name Badge as Technical Official.
NOT YET COMPETENT 😢
Different situations always arise at Swimming Meets which we weren’t expecting. These can impact on our judgement especially if you’re being assessed.
If you are given “Not Yet Competent”, your assessor would have spoken to you and indicated the area where you need improvement. Don’t be discouraged as many high level Technical Officials have been re-assessed and given “Not Yet Competent”. It doesn’t mean they have failed, it could have been a simple misjudgement over an unexpected situation.
Use this as a learning experience. If you can, next time work under the guidance of a mentor so that you can gain more confidence.
Update: 7 July 2024
John Owen