AnnouncementsFostering InclusionResources
Swimming is an important part of childhood for many families. It can build confidence, support safety, create friendships and help children feel included in activities that happen every day across Australian communities.
For deaf and hard of hearing children, access to swimming lessons is especially important. It is not just about being in the pool. It is about being able to understand instructions, feel safe, connect with the teacher and participate with confidence.
That is why Deaf Children Australia launched Puggles Pro last week.
What is Puggles Pro?
Puggles Pro is an online training course designed to help swimming teachers, swim schools and aquatic professionals create more inclusive lessons for deaf and hard of hearing children.
The course builds on the foundations of deaf awareness, inclusive communication and practical teaching strategies. It gives swimming teachers more tools to support children in busy pool environments, where background noise, distance, group instructions and fast-paced lessons can make communication harder to access.
Puggles Pro helps teachers think more deeply about how a deaf or hard of hearing child may experience a swimming lesson. It also gives them practical ways to make instructions clearer, routines more predictable and lessons more accessible.
At its heart, Puggles Pro is about making sure deaf and hard of hearing children are not only welcomed into swimming lessons, but genuinely supported to learn, participate and feel safe in the water.
Why we created Puggles Pro
Puggles Pro was created as the next step after Puggles Swim.
Puggles Swim gives swimming teachers the foundational knowledge they need to include deaf and hard of hearing children in mainstream swimming lessons.
Puggles Pro takes that learning further
We created Puggles Pro because inclusion does not stop at the basics. Once a teacher understands the foundations, the next step is building confidence, adapting lessons more effectively and responding to each child’s individual communication needs.
Puggles Pro provides more detailed learning for swimming teachers who want to strengthen their practice. It supports teachers to communicate more clearly, use visual strategies, understand the importance of routine and create lessons where deaf and hard of hearing children can feel more confident.
For swim schools, Puggles Pro also shows families that their centre is committed to creating safer and more inclusive learning environments for all children.
Hear from our community
The response to Puggles Swim has shown us how powerful inclusive communication can be in the pool.
One swimming teacher, Bronwyn, shared:
“Swimming is more than a skill. It is a lifeline.”
She also reflected on the impact of finding Puggles through Deaf Children Australia:
“When I found Puggles through Deaf Children Australia, I discovered a whole new world of connection and understanding.”
Another Puggles Skipper shared how useful the strategies have been for all children, not only deaf and hard of hearing children:
“I have started using Puggles with all of my kids, deaf or not, and they love it. Even kids with ADHD or autism are more engaged. The visual signs help everyone feel seen and understood.”
For Oscar, becoming a Puggles Skipper was about making sure more children had access to teachers who understood their needs:
“I wanted there to be more than one person that could teach children with hearing difficulties and I wanted to be that person.”
For families, the importance of inclusive swimming lessons is clear. As one parent, Carol, shared:
“Just because Davie can’t hear, doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be able to swim.”
These reflections remind us that inclusive teaching is not just a professional skill. It can change how children experience learning, safety and belonging.
The importance of water safety and inclusion
Swimming is a life skill.
In Australia, water safety education continues to be an important issue. Royal Life Saving Australia’s National Drowning Report 2025 recorded 357 drowning deaths over the previous 12 months, which was 27% higher than the 10-year average. (Royal Life Saving Society – Australia)
Research from Royal Life Saving Australia has also shown that many children are not meeting key swimming and water safety benchmarks. In 2025, teachers estimated that 48% of Year 6 students could not swim 50 metres and tread water for two minutes. (Royal Life Saving Society – Australia)
For deaf and hard of hearing children, swimming lessons need to be accessible as well as available. A child may be physically present in the pool, but still miss important instructions if communication is not clear.
In a pool environment, spoken instructions can be difficult to follow. There may be echo, splashing, background noise and distance between the teacher and child. For some children, hearing technology may also be less effective in or around water.
This is why inclusive communication matters.
Simple changes can make a real difference. Visual instructions, clear routines, signed keywords, face-to-face communication and checking for understanding can help children feel more secure and supported.
When swimming teachers have the right tools, children are more likely to understand what is being asked of them. They are more likely to feel confident, and they are more likely to enjoy their lessons. Most importantly, they are better supported to develop water safety skills that can last a lifetime.
Inclusion is not an extra part of swimming education. It is part of creating safer, more welcoming spaces for every child.
Learn more about Puggles Pro
Puggles Pro is for swimming teachers, swim schools and aquatic professionals who want to build on the foundations of Puggles Swim and continue developing their inclusive practice.
By learning more about deaf awareness, visual communication and practical strategies for the pool, teachers can help create lessons where deaf and hard of hearing children feel understood, supported and safe.
To learn more about Puggles Pro and how it supports inclusive swimming lessons, visit the Puggles Pro page today.
