Thanks to the generous support of the Jenour Foundation, 88 Rainbow Club teachers have now completed Autism Swim Certification, with another 40 currently undertaking the training.
Ask any Rainbow Club family what makes the biggest difference to their child’s swimming journey and you’ll often hear the same answer — the teachers.
Their patience. Their understanding. Their ability to adapt a lesson, celebrate every achievement and create an environment where children feel safe, supported and successful.
That’s why we’re so excited to be investing in specialised training through our partnership with Autism Swim. The scholarship program has given teachers across our network access to world-leading training in autism, neurodiversity, communication, sensory needs and inclusive teaching practices at no cost to them.
Importantly, this training builds on the specialised skills Rainbow Club teachers already bring to the pool deck. Through ongoing professional development, mentoring, disability-specific training and practical teaching experience, our teachers are continually learning and growing. The Autism Swim Certification adds another layer of expertise, giving teachers even more practical strategies to support neurodivergent swimmers and their families.
“It was one of the most insightful courses I’ve ever taken. The drowning statistics for children on the autism spectrum were a confronting reminder of why this training matters — it inspired me to take action straight away to better support my team and students.”
— Hannah, Southport Rainbow Club
Teachers have reported increased confidence, practical new teaching strategies and a deeper understanding of how to support each swimmer as an individual. The training is already helping create even better experiences for our members and families across Australia.
“At Autism Swim, we’re proud to partner with Rainbow Club to equip teachers with world-leading neuro-inclusive training, celebrating each swimmer’s strengths and creating lessons where they can feel safe, confident and included.”
— Autism Swim
We would like to sincerely thank the Jenour Foundation for making this opportunity possible and Autism Swim for delivering such valuable training. Together, we are helping ensure every child who comes to Rainbow Club is supported by teachers who never stop learning, growing and striving to provide the very best experience possible.