The popularity of aqua aerobics is peaking, but there aren’t enough instructors like Bill to go around

It’s 7.30am on a winter’s Tuesday morning at an indoor pool in Melbourne’s east, and a 96-year-old instructor is gently coaxing his students into an enthusiastic underwater can-can dance.

Bill Stevens is a healthy, silver-haired man in his 90s who loves to inspire others, usually 10 or 20 (or even 3) years younger than him, to get healthy too.

And today he really turned up the volume, directing more than 20 water aerobics participants in high kicking moves while paying homage to the Paris Olympics opening ceremony with a splash of water.

Forget the fanfare and feathers: Stevens’ classes at the Aquarena Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Lower Templestowe are all about donning chlorine-resistant swimsuits, moving to music and laughing.

“A swarm of jellyfish”

One of the younger regulars, Helen Keesman, 61, used to swim in the outdoor pool and admits she used to think the water aerobics participants “looked like a swarm of floating jellyfish”.

She never expected to fall in love with the splashy workouts she says are great for building core strength and balance. She’s even joined a dedicated WhatsApp group where participants check in on each other and share holiday photos.

Mr Stevens began teaching about 25 years ago after retiring from a career as an export marketing manager in the wine industry, and says that at first only six to eight people showed up to his classes. But it steadily snowballed.

“We can now accommodate up to 40 people, and more if we have enough pool space,” said Stevens, who runs at least 10 sessions each week across the four centres.

One of the most popular tickets in town

While the man is certainly popular, he’s not alone: ​​Classes across the country can fill up within minutes, leaving some aqua aerobics enthusiasts in a bind.

Mandy Metcalf, group fitness captain at Aquarena, said the centre hosts around 20 aqua aerobics classes every week, with hundreds of people donning swimsuits.

“It’s really grown in popularity over the last few years,” Metcalf said, though he noted that interest wanes a bit in the cooler months.

“As far as I know, this is common at most aquatics centers.”

Metcalf believes the pandemic may still be having a knock-on effect when it comes to teacher shortages.

“Before COVID, there were a lot more instructors available. And because of the length of time, instructors had to find other jobs and many stayed in their current jobs.”

She said some people have started to return, but they have had to renew things like CPR certifications and registrations that had expired.

Demand is so high that Metcalfe herself is completing a course to become an aqua aerobics instructor.

According to the new National Aquatics Workforce Framework, the typical aquatics instructor works fewer than eight hours per week across multiple organisations across multiple facilities.

A similar report published by the Royal Australian Lifesaving Society last year found that 78% of aquatic exercise instructors are women, and 29% work as swim instructors on the side.

Additionally, 41% of aqua aerobics instructors nationwide left the industry during the pandemic, but 57% of them returned within four to six months.

Royal Life Saving Australia’s general manager of capabilities and industry, RJ Houston, said while the typical hourly rate was quite good – around $80 in his experience but sometimes less – it was hard for aqua aerobics athletes to find enough hours to make a living.

Metcalf agrees that pay can vary from center to center, but says about $60 for a 45-minute lesson is typical.

Of that, instructors often have to pay for their own sheet music, licenses and registration fees, she said, plus unpaid travel time between different centers.

As for finding enough time, Houston said that in metropolitan areas, neighboring centers may run similar aqua aerobics schedules, making it difficult for instructors to switch between centers.

And 58 per cent of Australia’s swimming facilities are in regional areas, often with just one pool, making it hard to find enough time for instructors, he said.

More than just training

Houston says aqua exercise instructors play a vital role by providing programs to “some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.”

This includes people with disabilities or health problems, those who are obese or who feel isolated and rely on aqua aerobics to get out and about.

Back at Bill Stevens’ class in suburban Melbourne, the mood is upbeat, with Disco Inferno lyrics – “Burn, baby, burn” – providing the perfect background music for some of the more difficult moves.

But the agile Stevens, who only gave up running at age 94, shows no signs of fatigue.

He says the feedback he receives from class members is encouraging and he enjoys helping others stay active and social.

“It keeps you young and keeps your brain working,” he says.

Chatting poolside after class, Theresa Clark, 83, said she treasures the friendships she’s made and the physical strength she’s developed since undergoing hip replacement surgery several years ago.

“Bill’s a great guy. He’s healthy and keeps us healthy.”