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The Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA) held its 2022 Australian Swim Schools Conference last week at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, uniting the nation's leading advocates for swim safety while also honouring those outstanding contributors in industry with Excellence Awards and inducting industry heroes into the Hall of Fame.

The largest conference to date saw an attendance of more than 400 delegates from swim schools across Australia and abroad.

Aiming to reinvigorate the learn to swim industry, the conference explored solutions to barriers the industry is currently facing such as swim teacher shortages and an increase in child drownings off the back of a disruptive two years which has led to a national skills regression among young swimmers.

The annual conference solidified their commitment to providing all-inclusive education around swim safety.

ASSA continues to develop and promote international leading guidelines, professional development programs, growth opportunities and business support for its members.

2022 Hall of Fame Recipients:
This year two worthy recipients were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Inductees included John Coutts, New Zealand swimmer and director of Carlile Swimming Australia, the largest private swimming school in the world, originally set up by Australian swimming legend Forbes and Ursula Carlile.

Carol Gathercole was also honoured in the Hall of Fame for her contribution in pioneering the learn to swim Industry and helping provide the foundation of swim teaching programs today. Gathercole has contributed nearly 60 years to teaching and education swim students, teachers and coaches around the world.

2022 Excellence Awards Recipients

Sustainability
- Seadragonz Swim School
Sustainability (group)
- City Venue Management
Inclusivity
- Swim Mechanix
- Kirby Swimming Karinyup

SAFER Swimming
- Nepean Aquatic Centre
Community Service
- Hampton Swim School
- Kim Rigby
Outstanding Growth
- BlueFit Swimming Moss Vale War Memorial Aquatic Centre

Image: ASSA Hall of Fame inductees John Coutts receiving his award

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