swim instructor

center manager

customer service representative

assistant manager

customer care specialist

Kingswim

I worked at Kingswim for four years and worked my way up from Swim Teacher to Supervisor. The experience itself was valuable and helped me develop leadership, teaching, customer service, and staff management skills.

The people on the ground made the job worthwhile. My coworkers were hardworking, supportive, and genuinely cared about the kids and families they worked with. Most of the staff were doing their best despite the challenges they faced.

The biggest problem by far was management. Centre management and upper management were consistently disconnected from what was actually happening in the centres. Decisions were often poorly handled, communication was lacking, and staff concerns rarely felt like a priority. Instead of addressing issues properly, there seemed to be a culture of avoiding difficult conversations and protecting the company's image. HR was particularly frustrating to deal with and often felt more focused on making problems disappear than resolving them.

The working conditions didn't help either. The pool room regularly felt like a 40-degree sauna, making long shifts physically draining. Staff were expected to spend hours in those conditions while still maintaining high energy levels throughout the day.

Kingswim has some great employees and I met some fantastic people during my time there, but the quality of leadership did not reflect the effort put in by frontline staff. After four years with the company, the overwhelming impression I was left with was that many of the issues staff raised could have been avoided with stronger, more competent, and more accountable management. 

This isn't going to be me slagging off the company, I love working for Kingswim and as a consequence, YMCA Victoria. 

The work is incredible, especially in water with the kids. It is easily the most gratifying and rewarding thing I do on a weekly basis. The interactions you have with the kids are incredible and the progress you can see them make in a skill that will serve them for life is amazing. 

What I do have an issue with is the toxic work culture that is beginning to emerge in all the ACT centres as managers that complain about problems that they are not willing to address or fix continue to hold management positions. My centre manager specifically, I feel has been in the position for far too long and is allowing problems to continue unchecked within the centre. This is having a negative effect on the service and product we deliver and it shows. 

If I didn't love the shift work so much and have great relationships with other staff who aren't managers, I would be long gone. 
Oh and the hourly rate is great. 

UPSIDE: 
*Fun Workplace, 
*Very Flexible Hours, 
*Paid Training Available in other work areas, 
*Uniform Included,
*Generous Staff Discounts

DOWNSIDE: 
*No Permanent Shifts - even for long-term employees. I have been there for almost 5 years and am qualified in all areas and am still a Casual employee.
*Some shifts are only 2 hours long.
*Not paid for the time before and after shifts where you are still working ie setting up and moving pool lane ropes, packing/unpacking swim baskets, which happens before and after each and every shift.

I thoroughly enjoyed working with my coworkers at king-swim as they were all super friendly, enthusiastic and team players. Managers were okay for the first while but did not accept any absences, I was sick a few in the year so I couldn't come and they said I was unreliable and I should think about my priorities. When interviewing there and numerous times throughout the year I let my boss know I had some sporting competitions throughout the year, the dates and informed them I wouldn't be able to work then, they said that was completely okay but when it got to that time they became very annoyed and said if I couldn't guarantee I could work all those days I would be let go.

Friendly atmosphere, felt supported by immediate manager and empowered not to take any abuse from customers on the phone. Everyone happy to help out or be asked questions.

Sometimes decisions would be made at higher management levels that didn't always fit with what was happening on the ground for us, or were things that were a better fit for other arms of the business but we all had to go along with it.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Teaching children was a highlight for me

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Sooo much conflict with all the workers it was ridiculous.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Lots of different culture, very wide range

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Stressful as you dont know if another teacher has complained about something

Some shifts (particularly the weekend ones) could be very hectic, others (some weekday morning ones) quite quiet. Overall it was very good although the assigning of shifts could be done better because people were always needing others to fill in for them.

Fantastic work atmosphere, with excellent staff that go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome and valuable. Management always checks in with staff to see how everyone is going and how they can change things to make the center a better work environment.

Working at kingswim provided me with a interesting and lively culture with friendly management and friendly co workers, learning how to deal with children whilst teaching them to swim was quite interesting

Friendly environment, engaging and challenging but rewarding with your positive impact on the children within the facility. Learning great communication skills with the children and staff members.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Swim instructor 54 salaries reported	$30.31 per hour
Center manager 7 salaries reported	$37.96 per hour
Customer service representative 11 salaries reported	$28.40 per hour
Assistant manager 8 salaries reported	$29.33 per hour
Customer care specialist 1 salary reported	$38.98 per hour

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