Geelong’s Leisurelink Aquatic and Recreation Centre secures Life Saving Victoria award

The City of Greater Geelong’s commitment to water safety has been recognised with Leisurelink Aquatic and Recreation Centre having secured the prestigious ‘Swim and Survive Partner of the Year award’ at the recent Life Saving Victoria awards.

The award win highlights Leisurelink’s outstanding dedication to implementing the Swim and Survive program, making it accessible and engaging for a diverse range of participants.

Leisurelink’s Webstar’s Swim School is among the largest in Australia with over 4400 students enrolled in weekly lessons, while also being on track to provide swim school lessons to over 5000 school students this year.

The award is due recognition for the City’s Swim Sport & Leisure team as it bounced back from a nation-wide staff shortage as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The City’s Swim Sport & Leisure worked through this challenge by funding training for 87 new teachers and appointing over 100 local people to roles within the program.

Leisurelink also faced the hurdle of a pool closure impacting numbers through 2021-2022 but has rebounded to see recovery growth of 42% in the past year.

The program at Leisurelink has also evolved to focus on diversity and inclusion with small group sizes enabling teachers to identify and work with students requiring extra support.

Leisurelink has also conducted swimming lessons for Deakin University’s international students, identifying a need to reach new residents unfamiliar with the region’s beaches and waterways, along with the fundamentals of swimming safely.

Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan noted “this award is wonderful recognition for the City’s swimming program at Leisurelink.

“Leisurelink has long demonstrated a proactive and community-focussed approach to promoting water safety and swimming skills.

“There’s no doubt this has led to it having a meaningful and positive impact for a lot of people of all ages within the local community.”

Jacqui Wurf - Sport & Leisure Aquatic Program Specialist shared “Leisurelink offers more than just lessons.

“We focus on supporting our students to progress through the Swim and Survive levels and strive to achieve high community engagement with a safety around water focus.

“Our students also have access to unlimited swimming before and after their lessons to continue to practice what they have learned in their lessons and have reciprocal access to six, soon to be seven, centres as part of their membership.”