There are 16 stages within the Swim and Survive program:
Stage 1 — Beginner
Beginner is about safe entry and exit from the water.
Water Discovery is about being pulled to safety and the development of the freestyle stroke.
Preliminary includes performing a survival sculling on your back float and learning freestyle breathing
Water Awareness is about the importance of water safety and learning survival backstroke.
Water Sense develops an understanding of the elements in being water safe while extending your backstroke skills.
Junior means you can complete a competitive swimming dive as well as gain the ability to swim 50 m freestyle.
Intermediate includes the skill of egg-beater kick used in water polo while extending swimming and survival abilities.
Stage 8 — Water Wise
Water Wise develops good judgement in water safety while learning the skill of sidestroke.
Stage 9 — Senior
Senior includes the skill of competitive tumble-turns and learning basic principles of resuscitation.
Survival Strand (Stages 10–12)
Junior Swim and Survive links the skills of swimming, diving and treading water needed when in open water. Having gained these skills give surfing a try.
Swim and Survive included the use of a personal flotation device while extending swimming and survival abilities. Having gained this skill give canoeing a try.
Senior Swim and Survive includes what to do when escaping from a capsized boat while extending swimming and survival abilities. Having gained these skills give sailing a try.
Bronze Rescue Strand (Stages 13–16)
Dry Rescue (Optional)
Rescue skills for non - swimmers
Stage 13 Wade Rescue
To introduce skills and knowledge of safe water rescue and survival.
Stage 14 Accompanied Rescue
To develop skills and knowledge of safe water rescue and survival.
Stage 15 Bronze Star
To develop skills and knowledge of safe water rescue and survival.
Stage 16 Bronze Medallion
The international benchmark for lifesaving award.
Bronze Cross (Optional)
For lifesavers that want to be challenged.