Mel’s Swim School: A love for water and safety

Using Deloraine Primary School’s pool, Mel Bussey at Mel’s Swim School has been transforming lives with her passion for swimming and dedication to safety. For the past two and a half years, Mel has been teaching swimming to locals—offering a blend of experience and empathy to students as young as six months, through to adults who have never felt comfortable in the water. Her classes cover everything from basic water familiarisation to advanced stroke correction, all with the primary goal of making the water a safer, more welcoming place for everyone.

With a background as a teacher’s aide, Mel was naturally drawn to a profession that combines her lifelong love for swimming with her skill working with children. “I enjoy swimming—I’ve swum all my life,” Mel says, explaining her journey into swim teaching. She has created a welcoming environment for beginners, guiding many from a place of fear to a sense of pride and achievement. “I’ve gone from kids that are terrified to get in the water, to now swimming a full lap unaided. The happiness they feel is contagious.”

Mel’s classes span different age groups and abilities. For infants, it’s about familiarisation—getting them comfortable in the water. As they grow, lessons progress to essential water safety skills. For adults, she offers both beginner and advanced sessions, welcoming everyone from those stepping into the water for the first time to seasoned swimmers looking for stroke refinement. One of her most impactful areas of work is with autistic children, where the primary focus remains water safety, teaching them essential skills on how to get out safely if they were to fall in.

Teaching swimming, however, is no simple task. “There aren’t a lot of qualified swimming teachers around,” Mel explains, highlighting the commitment required, especially in winter when the pool’s chill requires resilience. “It’s quite hard when it’s freezing cold and dark, but it’s worth it for the progress I see.” Currently, Mel manages 98 students each week, and—though she welcomes any additional help—she notes that few are willing to undergo the training and brave the demands of the role.

You can drown in the smallest amount of water—and [I teach] how to fix it.

Mel’s schedule reflects her commitment. She teaches three hours on Tuesday mornings at Launceston Aquatic Centre before heading to Deloraine Primary for another three hours in the afternoon. Thursday sessions follow a similar pattern, with additional one-on-one lessons. As the weather warms, she also expands to private lessons in the afternoons. Beyond these commitments, Mel leads Aqua Fitness classes on Wednesday nights at 5pm, drawing locals together for exercise and community bonding.

Aside from her teaching schedule, Mel also continues to work locally as a teacher’s aide, specialising in autism support at Hagley. Despite her packed timetable, she finds joy in balancing these roles, viewing both her teaching and swimming instruction as extensions of her dedication to others. “It’s just something that fits together,” she says with a smile.

For Mel, swimming is about more than just skill—it’s about cultivating an essential respect for water. “The main thing is to be safe around the water,” she concludes. While winning a race might be a thrilling experience, understanding water safety is critical. Mel instructs her students on how to respond to different potential dangers, emphasising that even small amounts of water can be perilous if approached carelessly.

Parents and aspiring swimmers interested in Mel’s instruction can reach her via her Facebook page, ‘Mel’s Swim School’. There, anyone can find more information and arrange lessons tailored to their needs and skill levels.