Award for teaching life skills
TEACHING kids a valuable skill has secured a city swimming instructor a prestigious award.
Hayley Wolff was presented with the AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety Award last week, an award which is open to all AUSTSWIM registered swim schools in Queensland.
“I was lucky enough to get the award this year. It is pretty exciting,” Ms Wolff said.
She was presented with the award in a surprise ceremony at her workplace Fairholme College on Friday.
Ms Wolff, an assistant coach, gained her qualifications to become an instructor at just 17.
Now 25, Ms Wolff said coming from a swimming background and swimming at school gained her interest in the profession.
“I get a wide range of kids to teach,” she said.
“If a kid struggles to swim 25 metres and they keep at it, it is a great feeling to see their improvement.”
Ms Wolff is also a Fairholme College old girl and undertook her training while still at school. After working elsewhere, she returned in 2011.
“It is good to be back. It is home and everyone knows you,” she said.
For the past two years, Ms Wolff has also worked as a lifesaving coach and said water safety was the number-one part of her job.
“At the centre we say swimming is your playground for life,” she said.
“Thank you to AUSTSWIM and the people who I work with that I can do what I do.”
As a state winner, Ms Wolff now has the chance at the National AUSTSWIM Aquatic Industry Awards.
❝ At the centre we say swimming is your playground for life.
— Hayley Wolff