Get to know our instructors - Joe

Our swim instructors are helping teach more Australian kids everyday to become competent swimmers.

With the important job of teaching your child to swim, it is vital that swim instructors are highly experienced and educated. At HBF Stadium we ensure that as well as being experienced and knowledgeable our instructors are friendly and make sure your child feels comfortable in the water when learning to swim. Each instructor also brings a unique set of teaching techniques and passions for swimming to our swim school program. 

Our Swim School Supervisor, Joe, brings a unique energy and great passion to HBF Stadium's swim school team. He's a familiar and popular face around the venue.

Get to know Joe  

Q: How long have you been a swim instructor?

I am approaching the 6 year mark.

Q: What swim levels do you teach?

I teach the whole range from Toddlers at age 2, right up to our Adult Privates and Adult Squads (My oldest Adult learner was 70)

Q: What are your certifications?

I have the:

• Austswim Swim Teacher,
• Austswim Assessor, and the
• Austswim WETS (Aqua Fitness) Qualifications

Q: What is the best part about teaching at HBF Stadium? 

My favourite part about teaching at HBF Stadium is watching the children make swimming progress in our unique deep pool environment. I have seen some of the children since they were aged 2 and are now approaching level 4 and 5 or above. The pure joy these children get when they pass and the rapport I have with the families at this Venue gives me a sense of family which makes me want to stay here forever.

Q: Why do you think it is so important for everyone to become a competent swimmer? 

When people ask me this, I always think of the tv ad with Ita Buttrose saying “It only takes this much for a child to drown” as she indicates to a depth of only 1 inch of water. In conjunction with 2021 having a drowning death toll already at 294 in Australia alone, it is essential that swimming skills are provided to everyone regardless of age and ability. If what we do in our lessons provides people with the ability to reduce their risk of drowning then we are doing the right job!

Q: What is something people may not know about you? 

I have spent all of my schooling years and university right up to my PhD studying Agricultural Sciences. I use this knowledge in my own garden to grow lots of veggies and look after my chickens.

Q: If you could be anyone else for a day who would it be and why? 

I wouldn’t be anyone else. I have done some wild things in my time and taken the most non-linear path to end up where I am but I have no regrets. I love my family and love my job and love the people I work with. I would do everything exactly the same if I had to.

Q: Who is your sporting idol?

To be honest, I do not have an idol as I don’t really follow sports but I look up to my swim teaching colleagues who adapt their classes to make sure children are learning skills while having a great time and also the children I see swimming everyday in swim school who take on feedback to improve themselves

As well as our knowledgeable, experienced and friendly instructors like Joe, at HBF Stadium we offer classes with low ratios to ensure maximised learning. Swimming classes at HBF Stadium are continuous with a six week break in the December/January school holidays when our Summer Holiday Swim takes off, so kids are consistently progressing their skills. To find out more about what makes our classes the best swimming lessons Claremont has to offer click here.