Belgravia Leisure’s achievements in aquatic programs and facilities recognised at AUSTSWIM Awards

Belgravia Leisure’s inclusive aquatic venues and passionate swim teachers have been recognised at this year’s AUSTSWIM Awards.

Honouring AUSTSWIM teachers, presenters and recognised swim centres across the nation for their respective contributions to aquatic education and water safety, this year, the Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre was awarded the prestigious accolade of AUSTSWIM National Swim Centre of the Year as well as NSW Swim Centre of the Year.

The venue was awarded in acknowledgement of their diverse, highly qualified and award-winning team of staff who hold accreditations over a range of GoSwim extension courses.

Advising of the recognition of Auburn Ruth Everuss’s diverse variety of swimming and water safety lessons delivered across a multitude of languages, AUSTSWIM spokesperson and former Olympic gold medallist Brooke Hanson stated “one of their most recent and successful programs is their culturally and linguistically diverse academy.

“This holistic Learn to Swim program focuses on newly arrived refugee youth. So far, they have provided swimming and water safety lessons to over 100 refugee youths. Ten of these participants have progressed to become GoSwim teachers and employed staff. They are a thriving hub for their community and their team.”

Welcoming the award, Cumberland City Council Mayor, Steve Christou commented “we are pleased to have partnered with Belgravia Leisure to provide our diverse and multicultural community with inclusive leisure facilities at Auburn Ruth Everuss.”

Facility operator Belgravia Leisure is delighted to win the award and credits a large part of the success of Auburn Ruth Everuss to the hard work of Aquatic Services Coordinator Kristen Romero, as well as the incredibly passionate team at the venue.

The Awards also saw Aquarena Aquatic Centre receive the AUSTSWIM Victoria Swim Centre of the Year due to its excellent parent and child water safety programs and sessions which were designed to increase education and skills within the community.

Aquarena’s efforts were acknowledged for recognising that Learn to Swim lessons and school swimming lessons are not accessible to all families and the venue was commended for creating an opportunity to visit by offering excursions to the pool where children spent half the timing learning about water safety in the classroom before entering the pool environment to put what they learnt into practice.

Aquarena Aquatic Service Manager, Olivia Lie noted “the thing that drives us to be the best recognised swim centre is our passion for swim teaching and ensuring our community members know how to keep themselves safe when they’re around the aquatics environment.

“Not only are we passionate about swimming and swim teaching, we are also passionate about making our swim school accessible not only to people with a disability but also our older adult community as well.”

Smithton Wellbeing Indoor Recreation and Leisure Centre swim teacher Melissa Crosswell walked away with the AUSTSWIM Tasmanian Swim Teacher of the Year Award in acknowledgement of her ability to build strong rapport with parents, carers and students.

Circular Head Mayor, Daryl Quilliam congratulated Croswell on behalf of Council, advising “I’ve known Melissa since she was a young girl and I’m thrilled to see that Melissa’s enthusiasm and passion for swim teaching has been recognised after many years of dedication to helping children in our district learn to swim.”

Images: The team at Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre (top) and the Manningham Council's Aquarena Aquatic and Leisure Centre (below).