18 December 2025
Meet Yuan, the newest swim teacher on the block
Yuan Mei began swimming later in life, but her journey in the water has grown into something special that now helps her family, friends and wider community feel safer and more confident around water.
Growing up in an inland city in China, access to swimming lessons was limited and water safety education was rare. Without formal lessons, Yuan taught herself the basics of swimming as an adult, learning through practice and determination. When she moved to Australia 16 years ago, she noticed how central water safety and swimming are to everyday life.
Like many parents, Yuan focused first on her children’s swimming. It took time before she decided to invest in lessons for herself. “As parents we spend a lot of money on our kids doing swimming classes, but thought I should do that for myself,” she shared. “I deserve that.”
That decision marked a turning point. Yuan enrolled in adult swimming lessons and later heard about Royal Life Saving WA’s Women's Only program. “That was the first time I heard about this program, and later I introduced it to my friends who also wanted to learn swimming,” she said. Before long, her mum and more than ten of her friends, all with different swimming abilities, were attending lessons and forming a close and supportive network.
Inspired by the confidence she saw growing in others, and motivated by a desire to make a difference, Yuan was one of the first participants to enrol in Royal Life Saving WA’s inaugural Skills to Teach program this year. Supported by the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, the Skills to Teach program is designed to help Multicultural Swim and Survive participants transition from student to teacher, covering advanced swimming skills, rescue techniques and the foundations of effective swim instruction.
Reflecting on the experience, Yuan described how learning to teach deepened her own understanding of swimming. “When I swim, I do it automatically without thinking,” she said. “But if I’m teaching, I need to divide each task into smaller steps.” She found this approach transformative. “I learned a very structured way of teaching. Body position, legs, arms, tummy. [The trainer] explained everything very clearly.”
Yuan has since completed both the theory and practical components of her Swim Teacher qualification with Royal Life Saving WA. During her teaching placements she worked with both children and adults, which she describes as two “very different” experiences.
When teaching children, she finds their energy and enthusiasm contagious. “They have no fear, and they have curiosity and their own way of trying different things.” Exposure so many diverse personalities has encouraged her to be more open and adaptable as an instructor.
Teaching adults brought a different set of challenges and outcomes. Yuan described working with adult beginners who had never been in a pool before and were often fearful of the water. “They kind of have a fear of being in the water,” she said. “We try to make them relax, float, glide and build up their confidence.” She noted that many adult learners come from multicultural backgrounds, and some do not speak English. “But we still can communicate, and we can feel the courage and improvement from them.”
Beyond formal teaching, Yuan applies her skills within her family. She supports her children’s swimming with greater intention and assists extended family members, including older relatives, who are learning at different stages. “I can use what I learned to help them,” she said. “It’s the most rewarding part.”
Yuan’s inspirational journey highlights the powerful effect that access to swimming and water safety education can create. Through learning, teaching and sharing her experience, she is helping to build safer, more confident, and more connected multicultural communities in WA.
