About Us - What's News?

Once again, thanks to the generous support of Australian Unity, the 3rd annual Building Healthier Swim Schools Seminar Series been a great  Success. Over 150 people from over 60 different Swim Scools attended the events in Melbourne, Brisbane & Sydney. Australia’s Biggest Loser host, Hayley Lewis was again MC. Delegates were educated on financial planning advice from one of Australia Unity's Senior Financial Planner, along with hearing from Commonwealth Games record holder (most representations) Adam Pine and a panel of fellow Swim Schoolers. Hayley and Adam were also available for signings of ‘their’ Born to Swim posters; and to have their pictures taken with Swim School staff. Added to this was the invaluable networking and lunch. FREE ... thanks to Australian Unity. 

Swim Australia is hosting its first ever SwimTASSIE Conference in Hobart on the 7^th & 8^th August. Based on the SwimWEST conference program that has been held in Perth for the last 7 years this 1 ½ days Conference has been organised in & for people in the South. Keynote speaker for the event is Julie Zancanaro from Sydney who is a leader in the field of infants. Fifty plus delegates have registered for the event which will cover Swim School management topics on the Saturday & Babies & Toddler, Learn to Swim & Strokes on the Sunday.

Those who attend the event will be able to put it towards Professional Development re-registrations points for both ASCTA & Austswim qualifications. With what should be a successful event Swim Australia plans to host the event every year or biannually so that the Tasmanians no longer necessarily have to come to the mainland for quality Professional Development events.

The dates for the 2010 Building Healthier Swim Schools Seminar Series have been set.  They are:

• Melbourne Tuesday 10th August
• Brisbane - Tuesday 17th August
• Sydney - Tuesday 24th August

Australian Unity Learn to Swim Ambassador Hayley Lewis will MC the events, which will feature leading information financial advice that will make the difference in business and life.  Again, the Seminars are free and exclusive to Swim Schools registered with Swim Australia - thanks to Major Sponsor, Australian Unity.
 

• Supporters Award - Ambassador – Karen & Emily Seebohm
• Supporters Award – Sponsor - Australian Unity
• Supporters Award – Sponsor - Zodiac Group Australia
• Supporters Award – Sponsor – Vorgee Australia
• Supporters Award – Swim Australia SwimSAFER team – Tracey Ayton, Siria Thomas, Cameron Speechley & Dave DuBois
• Outstanding Community Service Award– Aquatic Achievers
• Outstanding Community Service Award– Beatty Park Swim School
• Outstanding Community Service Award-Hampton Swim School
• Outstanding Community Service Award – Peter McMahon’s Swim Factory
• Outstanding Community Service Award – Emma & Laurie Lawrence

• Best Swim School Uniform – Dolphin Aquatic Centre
• Best Swim School Promotion – C-ME Swim School
• Best Swim School Advertisement – Justin Norris Swim School
• Best Swim School Printed Material – Justin Norris Swim School
• Best Swim School Newsletter – Hills Swimming
• Best Swim School Website - Paul Sadler Swimland
• Best Swim School Team Builder – Carlile Swimming
• Best Swim School Marketing – Seadragonz Swim School & Dipadees Little Aussie Swim School
• Most Environmentally Friendly Swim School – Sue Pryor Swimming 

Pictured:  Award winner Justin Norris, Justin Norris Swim School, with Special Guest Presenters Tracey Wickham and Emily Seebohm.

Swim Australia partners, Ezidebit, featured in the latest issue of the prestigious "My Business" magazine (click here to view).  Swim Australia recently linked with Ezidebit with a view to helping its Swim School members with cash flow matters relating to enrolments (click here to view).
 

We are calling all nominations for the 2009 Swim Australia Awards. The 2009 Award winners will be presented at the 12th Swim Australia Dinner on Monday 3rd May 2010 at the prestigious Sofitel Gold Coast. To nominate your Swim School for one of the 10 categories simply complete & return forms to Swim Australia, PO Box 12, Bellbowrie QLD 4070 by COB Friday 5th March 2010.

Nomination letter click here

Nomination form click here

The Swim Australia™ Teacher of Babies and Toddlers (SAT B&T) was released in September 2009.  To date there has been sixteen courses conducted with over a hundred students attending.  It is a ‘stand-alone’ course so Students can gain this qualification without prerequisites.  It is in the same format at the Swim Australia™ Teacher course i.e. Students complete the theory on a CD ROM at home in their own time.  The course was written by industry leaders such as Lawrie Lawrence, Julie Zancanaro, Barb Nolan, Rob and Kathy McKay, Chris and Naomi Smith, Dave DuBois, Jenny McPhail, Ross Gage and David Speechley. 

The practical component of the course is five hours.  The course feedback has been fantastic with regular comments such as “great content and delivery” and “dolls were great, made you think about how to hold a baby” received.  That’s right, life-sized baby dolls are provided by ascta to the Course Presenters to use during the course delivery.

Swim Australia & SwimEd continue to find ways to improve the course. This is evident with the 2nd version of the Theory CD Rom due to be ready later this month.

If you hold another swimming babies and toddlers qualification you can apply for Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) to gain the SAT B&T accreditation.  If you have any staff that need training to teach babies and toddlers please direct them to a Swim Australia™ Teacher of Babies and Toddlers course.  For an RCC application or for the latest course calendar go to www.swimed.com 
 

The Swim Australia Teacher of Babies and Toddlers Accreditation course is nearing completion.  This week the text is undergoing final review by the Reference Group.  A feature of the interactive 'theory' CD-ROM is high class video footage supplied by Laurie Lawrence.   Swim Australia CEO Ross Gage said, "this ASCTA course will be another world leader - we can't wait to get it out into the Industry; it will be great for Teacher development".

Bob & Kathy Hubbard founders & owners of Hubbard Family Swim School are locked in to present at this year SwimFEST on the Gold Coast in late April / early May.

Bob grew up in New York and developed his passion for swimming while working as a beach lifeguard in the summers. Bob received a Bachelor of Science. in Psychology from Xavier University. While pursuing his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati he ran Swim World, a swimming-centred retail store in Ohio. Bob has been involved with the United States Swim School Association (USSSA) since 1998, was Vice President from 2003-2005 and President from 2005-2007.

Kathy received her English degree from Xavier University, Ohio in 1972. Kathy swam competitively at the National level through college and qualified for the 1968 Olympic Trials. In 1984 she finaled at the Masters National Swimming Championships just to prove that old mums can still swim! In 1988 she was inducted into Xavier University’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Kathy is currently Chairman of the USSSA Infant Toddler Committee.

The 90’s found Bob and Kathy Hubbard in Phoenix, running the Swim Programs and Summer Sorts Camps at Phoenix Swim Club. In 1998 Bob and Kathy founded the first Hubbard Family Swim School location in Phoenix on 32nd Street and Thunderbird and began running the first location of Hubbard Summer Sports Camps.  Over the years, one camp location has grown to four, and one swim school location has grown to three. Years of varied experiences all came together and allowed the Hubbard’s to pursue an opportunity that was challenging, rewarding and a really good fit!