31 August 2026

Relatable swim teachers bridging diversity and water safety education

Stuti Maru grew up in Australia and knows the importance of swimming and water safety skills. She’s now sharing her love of swimming with others since becoming a swim teacher earlier this year.

“As a child, learning to swim was simply fun,” says Stuti. “Later, it became important to me because it gave me a sense of safety. As I got older, I learnt how swimming as a physical activity was important for my health and development too – it was basically a package deal.”

Stuti enjoyed learning to swim as a child but always felt there was something missing in her swimming classes; that she couldn’t quite relate to her teachers or peers.

“I was usually part of the minority in swimming classes and often felt detached from other children and instructors simply because there was no one I could relate to,” says Stuti.

Stuti decided to pursue becoming a swim teacher herself so that she could provide that relatable experience to others from multicultural backgrounds. She joined Royal Life Saving WA’s Skills to Teach program, which provides a pathway to becoming a swim teacher and prepares students for the official Swim Teacher course.

“Skills to Teach allowed me to see whether swim teaching was the right choice for me and motivated me to pursue this career. The program provides a foundation of abilities and knowledge that are further developed in the swim teaching program.”

For Stuti, focusing on her communication skills has been a big part of her journey to become a swim teacher and something she is most proud of.

“Specifically, catering communication and teaching styles to different needs and requirements that are comfortable for the learner to understand and apply. This skill is an integral part of teaching others how to swim, regardless of age and background.”

Stuti’s motivation to teach others stemmed from not having that relatable experience herself, and being able to teach those from multicultural backgrounds is something she finds very rewarding.

“Nowadays, my ethnicity is less of a minority that it was, however I can still see how some students’ behaviours and engagements change in positive light. It reminds me of my younger self and what she once wanted to experience. Now, I’ve become the one who can provide it.”

For others considering becoming a swimming instructor, especially those from multicultural backgrounds, Stuti has this advice:

"Being a swimming instructor directly saves lives and teaches important skills. It’s highly rewarding and fills a major demand for diverse teachers.

“Value your background and become the bridge. Use your cultural insights and knowledge to help students and families to learn water safety in a way that they can understand, while being a relatable role model for them.”

Royal Life Saving acknowledges the support of the WA Government in delivering the Skills to Teach program.
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If you’d like to dip your toe into the world of swim teaching, the Skills to Teach program can help you decide if it’s the right path for you.
Learn more about Skills to Teach