Register as a SwimStart activity provider

SwimStart activity providers are a swimming organisation or business delivering eligible swimming activities in Queensland.

All SwimStart activity providers must register in Enquire for the registration and redemption of vouchers.

Once approved, the SwimStart activity provider will be added to the SwimStart activity provider directory.

Note, if you are a registered FairPlay activity provider that is also eligible to be a SwimStart activity provider, you will need to register to become a SwimStart activity provider.

Key dates

27 October 2023 Eligible organisations and businesses can register as SwimStart activity providers
7 November 2023 at 9am SwimStart round 1 opens for voucher applications
31 May 2024 at 5pm Round 1 closes for voucher applications
7 June 2024 Last day for round 1 vouchers to be presented to an activity provider
12 June 2024 at 5pm Round 1 closes for vouchers to be redeemed by an activity provider

Eligibility

Only approved SwimStart activity providers can accept SwimStart vouchers from a parent, carer or guardian.

SwimStart activity providers can not accept FairPlay vouchers.

FairPlay activity providers can not accept SwimStart vouchers.

Check if you’re eligible

To be considered as a registered activity provider you need to meet the eligibility criteria:

  • Deliver the activity in Queensland
  • have a valid and current Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Be an affiliated member with:
    1. Australian Swim Schools Association
    2. AUSTSWIM
    3. Royal Life Saving Society Queensland; Or
    4. Swim Australia
  • Ensure lessons are:
    1. of age appropriate Learn to swim activity
    2. provided in-person weekly or in intensive learn to swim programs over a minimum of 150 minutes in total
    3. delivered in the State of Queensland,
    4. aligned/endorsed as meeting the National Swimming and Water Safety Framework benchmarks.
  • have and maintain suitable public liability and team/participant insurance;
  • meet the Queensland Blue Card requirements for persons working with children; and
  • conducted by appropriately qualified persons, including;
    1. Teacher of Swimming & Water Safety Qualified
    2. Hold a current CPR certificate.
    3. Undertake annual Industry Professional development.
    4. For lessons involving children under 5 years old, hold appropriate qualification for age.

Usage of SwimStart vouchers

IncludeExclude
Membership, registration or participation fees for an Eligible Activity up to $150 Individual items such as including but not limited to swimmers, goggles, swimming equipment or travelling costs;  are not included as part of the membership/participation fees

Applying as an SwimStart activity provider

  1. Create an Enquire account.
  2. Add your organisation to a business registration. The accountable officer should be the most senior person within the organisation such as the President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairperson or Principal.
  3. Complete the activity provider application by:
    • clicking ‘Apply’ to register as an activity provider for SwimStart vouchers (this is located on the home page)
    • uploading the organisation’s bank statement which needs to exactly match the organisation’s legal name. The statement must be less than 3 months old. The department will not accept online printouts, transaction listings, account confirmations, screen captures, mobile app screenshots.
  4. There are two phases to the process. Once registered with your own email address (phase 1) you will need to apply to create a business account in the organisation’s legal name using the club/organisation email address (phase 2). (As shown on the ABN Register)
  5. Read and agree to the terms and conditions.

Apply now

You will receive an email confirming the outcome. Once approved, your organisation may accept and redeem SwimStart vouchers.

If your organisation is incorporated under an Act, please check your organisation’s legal name. If this legal name does not match the name on the Australian Business Register (ABR), your organisation must update the ABN to reflect the current legal name.

All Non-incorporated organisations will need to demonstrate affiliation with at least one of the following:

  1. Australian Swim Schools Association
  2. AUSTSWIM
  3. Royal Life Saving Society Queensland; Or
  4. Swim Australia

If the funds have not been paid into your bank account:

  • check your spam or junk email for the remittance advice.
  • remittance advice is emailed to the primary contact email set-up in Enquire.

Organisations with activities at multiple sites

  • The SwimStart activity provider locator only allows one location per activity provider.
  • Where a SwimStart activity provider has multiple sites, register using the activity providers central address as the initial point of contact and tick/select that activities are provided in various locations.
  • Provide the department with a list of all locations by emailing swimstartvouchers@dtis.qld.gov.au

SwimStart activity providers not on the SwimStart activity provider locator list

  • When your organisation applies for SwimStart registration, the department checks all the information provided against the program eligibility requirements.
  • Where the department requires further information, the contact person will be emailed.
  • An email is also sent to the contact person when an activity provider is approved.
  • The department updates the SwimStart activity provider locator list with newly approved organisations

You can update your bank account, email, or contact details in your Enquire account. If you have updated your bank account details, email a copy of your updated bank statement to Swimstart@dtis.qld.gov.au.

Redeeming a voucher

Where your organisation has been approved as a SwimStart activity provider, you may accept vouchers from parents, carers, or guardians.

SwimStart vouchers can only be redeemed within the Enquire system, which is not integrated with any other organisation’s websites or systems.

Steps to redeeming a voucher

  1. Login to your account, click on the ‘Redeem Voucher’ button.
  2. Check your organisation and bank details are still current and correct or edit to update.
  3. Read the terms and conditions and tick the box if you agree.
  4. Click ‘Save’ to proceed.
  5. Enter the voucher number and check the voucher details to confirm you are redeeming the correct voucher.
  6. Select the participation activity from the drop-down.
  7. Enter the full membership/participation fee for the child/young person for the season.
  8. Fees are to be entered as the full amount that a child/young person is charged (rounded up to the nearest dollar) for membership and/or participation fees (not the $150 voucher amount).
  9. The voucher redemption amount will automatically populate as the membership/participation fee up to $150.
  10. If you have more vouchers to redeem, ensure ‘Redeem another voucher’ is ticked and click ‘Redeem’.
  11. If you don’t have any more vouchers to redeem, untick ‘Redeem another voucher’ and click ‘Redeem’.
  12. Remittance advice (including voucher numbers) will be sent to the key contact’s registered email address.

If you haven’t received the refund 10 business days after completing the redemption process, email swimstartvouchers@dtis.qld.gov.au and include the:

  • voucher number
  • child’s name
  • date it was redeemed
  • your contact details for a response.

When and how often you can redeem the vouchers

  • Redeem vouchers all at once or as you receive each voucher.
  • All vouchers for the round must be redeemed by the final redemption date.

The SwimStart round will close early where all available vouchers have been allocated and Sport and Recreation is unable  to guarantee that an eligible child or young/person will obtain a voucher.

If you’re having issues registering or redeeming vouchers, email swimstartvouchers@dtis.qld.gov.au providing details of the issue/s and include a screen shot where possible.

Cancelling a voucher

If a child is injured or changes their mind about participating with the chosen SwimStart activity provider:

  • the parent will need to discuss cancelling membership with you.
  • vouchers cannot be transferred to any other child.
  • you are unable to redeem SwimStart vouchers for cash, or refund the amount to parents, carers or guardians.
  • if your organisation has incurred any costs this should be deducted from the amount claimed.
  • any unspent funds not transferred to another registered organisation should be returned to the department.
  • parents, carers or guardians can request changes to their SwimStart voucher to the department who will assess each request based on circumstances.

Where a child is not progressing with the membership, the SwimStart activity provider and parent need to discuss the options for the child and the activity provider, including:

  • SwimStart activity provider deducting any costs incurred from the amount claimed.
  • the option to transfer the membership to a different SwimStart activity provider.
  • the return of unspent funds to the department.

If a child is not selected/provided with a place

  • If the activity provider is not able to provide the activity, then the parent, guardian or carer will need to discuss options with the activity provider directly.
  • If the SwimStart voucher has not been redeemed by the activity provider, it should be returned to the parent, carer or guardian so they can present it at another activity provider.
  • If the voucher has been redeemed, the parent, carer or guardian and the activity provider can discuss transferring the membership/participation fees to another registered activity provider.

The SwimStart voucher value is not redeemable for cash or transferable to another child and cannot be refunded back to the applicant.

Email swimstartvouchers@dtis.qld.gov.au for more details.

Resources

Once we have confirmed you are registered, use the posters to promote SwimStart: