Multi-Class Competition Pathways

Clubs across Australia offer the chance for swimmers with disability to join in and give swimming a go. When you join your local swimming club you will experience all the benefits of membership, plus have access to club competition in multi-class and standard meets. Click here for more information.

Multi Class swimming is offered in the school sport system. From the age of 10, and once you are classified, you can progress in school sport competition right up to School Sports Australia Swimming Championships.

For more information contact the sport programs contact at your school or visit the School Sport Australia website here.

Sporting Schools is a $200 million Australian Government initiative designed to help schools to increase children's participation in sport and to connect them with community sporting opportunities.  Research shows that an early connection to sport can positively influence participation and encourage a lifelong love of sport.

More information on the Sporting Schools program can be found here.

For any other questions please contact Sporting.Schools@swimming.org.au.

All state and territory swimming associations offer multi class events at their championships and many other competitions throughout the year. In addition, many regional swimming associations offer multi class competition too.

On top of this Multi Class swimmers may also be selected to compete for their state at the State Teams Short Course meet.

For more information on multi class competition in your state contact your state or territory swimming association.

Swimming Australia offers multi class events at the Australian Age Championships and long course and short course Australian Championships every year. This is the pinnacle of the domestic multi class competition pathway.

For info about upcoming Swimming Australia competitions click here.

Swimming Australia prepares and selects the Australian Dolphins Swim Team to compete at Para-swimming competition including the Paralympic Games, World Para Swimming World Championships and World Series plus Commonwealth Games. Para swimming competition is for elite swimmers with physical, visual and intellectual impairment but all Australian Para-swimmers start out in multi class swimming. Through dedication, hard work and consistent performance swimmers can progress from multi class competition to the Paralympic Games podium.

Refer to the resources below for more information:

• Selection Criteria
• Performance Pathways
• Elite Athlete Information

Inas offers additional international competition opportunities for elite swimmers with intellectual impairment, down syndrome and autism. Eligible swimmers can compete at the Inas Global Games and Inas Swimming World Championships. You need to be classified and be a Swimming Australia club member.

For more information contact Sport Inclusion Australia.

Swimmers who are deaf or hard of hearing can compete at the Deaflympic Games and Deaf World Swimming Championships. You need to be classified and be a Swimming Australia club member.

For more information contact Deaf Sports Australia.

Swimmers with an eligible transplant can compete at the World Transplant Games and Australian Transplant Games.

For more information contact Transplant Australia.

Special Olympics is a global movement offering opportunities for people with disability to get involved in sport. Swimmers can participate in local level programs and compete in state, national and international competitions.

For more information contact Special Olympics Australia.