Swimming Australia approves new constitution giving athletes and clubs more say in governance

Swimming Australia’s nine voting members - made up of the seven State and Territory Member Organisations, Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia (SWIM/SCTA) and the Australian Swimmers Association - have adopted constitutional changes for an expanded voting membership.

Effective immediately, the long delayed constitutional change - which, for a period, saw World Aquatics threaten Swimming Australia with expulsion from international competition - sees the current voting rights expanded to now include athletes and clubs, affiliate members (Masters Swimming Australia, Water Polo Australia, Diving Australia and Artistic Swimming Australia) and the Australian representative on the World Aquatics bureau.

Swimming Australia’s governance is now more in-line with the broader Olympic movement, staving off the potential of suspension from World Aquatics.

However, not all votes will count equally.

The seven state and territory member organisations, ASA and SWIM/SCTA (previously had 100% of voting rights) will have in total 40% of the voting power and are the biggest voting bloc.

The change will see:

• The Ex Officio Director, if appointed, getting a 5% vote (World Aquatics Bureau Member)

• The Affiliate Members (masters, water polo, diving, and synchro) getting 5%, which becomes 10% in the case that there is no Ex Officio Director appointed.

• Club Members receive 30% of the voting power

• Eligible Athlete Members receive 20% of the voting power (Eligible Athlete Members includes members in the relevant time period who have represented Australia in swimming or para swimming as an athlete as part of the Australian team at the Olympics, Paralympics, Commonwealth Games, or World Championships).

In October, Swimming Australia and World Aquatics agreed on a path forward to avoid suspension after World Aquatics held the Australian body in violation of multiple points within the World Aquatics Constitution, including a lack of athlete voting power on the Board.

Click here to view the full updated constitution.

Image credit: Swimming Australia.