Between Data Science classes and adjusting to life in Australia, Priya found herself stepping out of her comfort zone in a way she could have never expected. Through Curtin’s Discover & Do Water Safety program, she not only learned to swim confidently but also gained independence, water safety skills, and new friends. Reading time: 2 minutes.
For Priya, learning to swim wasn’t something she ever thought would happen at university. Although she loved spending time at the beach and pools, she’d never learned how to swim properly in her home country of Thailand, and found she was missing opportunities to fully enjoy times with friends and family.
That changed through Curtin’s Discover & Do Water Safety swimming program.
Priya discovered the program by chance while working as a Curtin events assistant. When she overheard staff discussing swimming lessons at the local aquatic centre, she immediately asked to join.
Across six Sundays, Priya learned skills including floating, gliding, treading water, freestyle and breaststroke. But what stood out to her most was the focus on water safety. Aware of how dangerous Australian beaches can be, Priya says learning techniques such as conserving energy in the water has given her the confidence to swim more often.
To make the most of each session, Priya always made sure to ask for advice from instructors and even began recording herself during lessons so she could look back for areas for improvement.
“I got really serious about it. I started watching YouTube videos to perfect my skills because I really wanted to make the most out of it.”
As a child, Priya was hesitant to learn to swim after being laughed at by other children. This program, however, was a completely different experience. Although she went in not knowing anyone, she left with countless new friendships, as everyone was incredibly supportive.
“If someone was doing better than me, I would ask how they did it, and they would help me out.”
Being an international student, Priya found the cost of hobbies and activities difficult to manage, often making weekends feel monotonous. For her, the program was a great way to make her weekends more productive – with the bonus of staying active and meeting new people.
Priya doesn’t plan on stopping her swimming journey any time soon and hopes to progress through further certification levels. Snorkelling without a life jacket is next on her bucket list.
Her advice for students? “Step outside of your comfort zone.”
Even after the program, Priya plans to keep pushing herself outside of her own comfort zone and try to learn something new every day.
Discover & Do provides foundational introduction lessons, delivered by expert instructors in a safe, inclusive and welcoming space. The Water Safety program runs from 26 February – 12 April 2026. Registrations close Sunday 22 Feb – don’t miss out!
