2025 ASSA Awards of Excellence
ASSA recognised outstanding contributions at both regional and national levels – Across 15 categories.
These awards celebrated the achievements of Swim Schools and the incredible people who teach learn to swim and promote water safety in Australia and beyond.
Held at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, 2025 was a night to remember – view the photos, and included 4 new inductees into the ASSA Hall of Fame. They were:
Humanitarian – Floss Roberts AM
Outstanding Contribution – John Vorgias
Pioneer – Hilton Brown
Legend – Richard Cahalan
2025 ASSA AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
SWIM SCHOOL OF THE YEAR —
OVER 1,000 LESSONS PER WEEK
OVER 1,000 LESSONS PER WEEK
NATIONAL GOLD
SWIM SCHOOL OF THE YEAR — OVER 1,000 LESSONS PER WEEK
Paul Sadler Swimland – Rowville, Victoria
REGIONAL GOLD
» NATIONAL FINALISTS
SWIM SCHOOL OF THE YEAR — OVER 1,000 LESSONS PER WEEK
THESE REGIONAL WINNERS BECAME THE NATIONAL FINALISTS
VIC — Paul Sadler Swimland – Rowville
WA — Canning Swim School – Riverton
SA — SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre – Oaklands Park
QLD — Rackley Swimming – Parkinson
NSW — Eva Bory’s Swim School – Emu Heights
ACT — Stromlo Leisure Centre – Stromlo
REGIONAL
HIGHLY COMMENDED
SWIM SCHOOL OF THE YEAR — OVER 1,000 LESSONS PER WEEK
WA — Beatty Park Swim School – North Perth
WA — Aqualife Swim School – Victoria Park
VIC — BlueFit-Altona – Altona North
VIC — WynSwim – Hoppers Crossing
ACT — Aquatots Swim School – Canberra
NSW — Sydney Gymnastic and Aquatic Centre – Rooty Hill
- NSW — Hills Swimming – Kenthurst
SWIM SCHOOL OF THE YEAR —
UP TO 1,000 LESSONS PER WEEK
UP TO 1,000 LESSONS PER WEEK
NATIONAL GOLD
SWIM SCHOOL OF THE YEAR — UP TO 1,000 LESSONS PER WEEK
Let’s Swim Swim School – Newport Victoria
REGIONAL GOLD
» NATIONAL FINALISTS
SWIM SCHOOL OF THE YEAR — UP TO 1,000 LESSONS PER WEEK
THESE REGIONAL WINNERS BECAME THE NATIONAL FINALISTS
VIC — Let’s Swim Swim School – Newport
WA — Margaret River Swim School – Margaret River
NSW — BlueFit – Bankstown
QLD — Swimtikes Family Swim School – Burpengary East
SA — Buoyant Swimming and Aquatics – Strathalbyn
NT — Goldfishbowl Swim School – Yarrawonga
REGIONAL
HIGHLY COMMENDED
SWIM SCHOOL OF THE YEAR — UP TO 1,000 LESSONS PER WEEK
VIC — Healthways Swim School – Ringwood
VIC — Berrydale Swim School – Sunbury
SA — Jump! Swim Schools – Hackham
QLD — Rackley Swimming – Robina
NSW — Swim Experts – Minto
SWIM TEACHER OF THE YEAR
NATIONAL GOLD
SWIM TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Cass Evans — Streamline Swimming Centre – Capella QLD
REGIONAL GOLD
» NATIONAL FINALISTS
SWIM TEACHER OF THE YEAR
THESE REGIONAL WINNERS BECAME THE NATIONAL FINALISTS
Cass Evans — Streamline Swimming Centre – Capella QLD
Helen Harris — Aqualife Swim School – East Victoria Park WA
Alexandra Keratianos — Berrydale Swim School – Sunbury VIC
Brenton Munzer — Jump! Swim Schools – Hackham SA
Nicole Burton — Hills Swimming – Kenthurst NSW
REGIONAL
HIGHLY COMMENDED
SWIM TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Marnie Bell – BlueFit – Bankstown NSW
Joanne Miller — BlueFit – Casula NSW
Kiara Stassen — BlueFit – Lakelands WA
Vvnka Cridge — Canning Swim School – Cannington and Riverton Leisureplex WA
Karen Thompson — Buoyant Swimming and Aquatics – Strathalbyn SA
Tabitha Lewis — Buoyant Swimming and Aquatics – Strathalbyn SA
Kate Newton — PARC Swim – Frankston VIC
Kristy Britton — Swimtikes Family Swim School – Burpengary East QLD
Megan McArthur — Swimtikes Family Swim School – Burpengary East QLD
INNOVATION
NATIONAL GOLD
INNOVATION
Aqua Culture Swim – Brookvale NSW
REGIONAL GOLD
» NATIONAL FINALISTS
INNOVATION
THESE REGIONAL WINNERS BECAME THE NATIONAL FINALISTS
NSW — Aqua Culture Swim – Brookvale
VIC — Berrydale Swim School – Sunbury
QLD — Swimtikes Family Swim – Burpengary East
REGIONAL
HIGHLY COMMENDED
INNOVATION
NSW — Carlile Swimming Group
NEW SWIM SCHOOL
NATIONAL GOLD
NEW SWIM SCHOOL
BlueFit — Oran Park NSW
REGIONAL GOLD
» NATIONAL FINALISTS
NEW SWIM SCHOOL
THESE REGIONAL WINNERS BECAME THE NATIONAL FINALISTS
NSW — BlueFit – Oran Park
- QLD — Sam Riley Swim Schools – Warner
INCLUSIVE SWIM SCHOOL
NATIONAL GOLD
INCLUSIVE SWIM SCHOOL
Aqualife Swim School – East Victoria Park WA
REGIONAL GOLD
» NATIONAL FINALISTS
INCLUSIVE SWIM SCHOOL
THESE REGIONAL WINNERS BECAME THE NATIONAL FINALISTS
WA — Aqualife Swim School – East Victoria Park
NSW — Aqua Culture Swim – Brookvale
QLD — Swimtikes Family Swim School – Burpengary East
VIC — WynSwim – Hoppers Crossing
REGIONAL
HIGHLY COMMENDED
INCLUSIVE SWIM SCHOOL
VIC — Aqua Access 4 All – Melbourne
MARKETING & COMMUNICATION
NATIONAL GOLD
MARKETING & COMMUNICATION
Rackley Swimming
REGIONAL GOLD
» NATIONAL FINALISTS
MARKETING & COMMUNICATION
THESE REGIONAL WINNERS BECAME THE NATIONAL FINALISTS
QLD — Rackley Swimming
NSW — All Coast Swim Stars
VIC — GOswim Australia
EMPLOYER OF CHOICE
NATIONAL GOLD
EMPLOYER OF CHOICE
Hills Swimming – Kenthurst NSW
REGIONAL GOLD
» NATIONAL FINALISTS
EMPLOYER OF CHOICE
THESE REGIONAL WINNERS BECAME THE NATIONAL FINALISTS
NSW — Hills Swimming – Kenthurst
ACT — Aquatots Swim School – Canberra
VIC — Let’s Swim Swim School – Newport
REGIONAL
HIGHLY COMMENDED
EMPLOYER OF CHOICE
NSW — Eva Bory’s Swim School – Emu Plains
- NSW — Sutherland Leisure Centre – Sutherland`
INTERNATIONAL SWIM SCHOOL
NATIONAL GOLD
INTERNATIONAL SWIM SCHOOL
D Swim Academy – Malaysia
COMMUNITY SERVICE
NATIONAL GOLD
COMMUNITY SERVICE
SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre – Oaklands Park SA
REGIONAL GOLD
» NATIONAL FINALISTS
COMMUNITY SERVICE
THESE REGIONAL WINNERS BECAME THE NATIONAL FINALISTS
SA — SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre – Oaklands Park
ACT — Aquatots Swim School – Canberra
WA — Beatty Park Swim School – North Perth
VIC — PARC Swim – Frankston
NSW — Sutherland Shire Council – Sutherland
REGIONAL
HIGHLY COMMENDED
COMMUNITY SERVICE
NSW — Swim Experts – Minto
SUSTAINABILITY
NATIONAL GOLD (AND VIC GOLD)
SUSTAINABILITY
Healthways Swim School – Mont Albert North VIC
WATER SAFETY
NATIONAL GOLD
WATER SAFETY
All Coast Swim Stars – Charmhaven NSW
REGIONAL GOLD
» NATIONAL FINALISTS
WATER SAFETY
THESE REGIONAL WINNERS BECAME THE NATIONAL FINALISTS
NSW —All Coast Swim Stars – Charmhaven
ACT — Aquatots Swim School – Canberra
SA — Jump! Swim Schools – Hackham
QLD — Rackley Swimming – SE QLD
VIC — WynSwim – Hoppers Crossing
REGIONAL
HIGHLY COMMENDED
WATER SAFETY
NSW — Hills Swimming – Kenthurst
EMERGING TALENT
NATIONAL GOLD
EMERGING TALENT
Kelly Woods — Swim Experts – Minto NSW
REGIONAL GOLD
» NATIONAL FINALISTS
EMERGING TALENT
THESE REGIONAL WINNERS BECAME THE NATIONAL FINALISTS
NSW — Kelly Woods – Swim Experts Minto
QLD — Kaya Coupe – Rackley Swimming Runaway Bay
VIC — Ella Gartery – BlueFit
REGIONAL
HIGHLY COMMENDED
EMERGING TALENT
QLD — Danielle Kneen – Sam Riley Swim Schools – Brisbane
VIC — Lauren Swaby – Let’s Swim Swim School – Newport
NSW — Katrina Partridge – Eva Bory’s Swim School – Emu Plains
NSW — Natasha Byrnes – Eva Bory’s Swim School – Emu Plains
NSW — Natasha Foley – Carlile Swim – Sydney
SWIM SCHOOL COORDINATOR / MANAGER
NATIONAL GOLD
SWIM SCHOOL COORDINATOR / MANAGER
Jordi Sullivan — Canning Swim School – City of Canning WA
REGIONAL GOLD
» NATIONAL FINALISTS
SWIM SCHOOL COORDINATOR / MANAGER
THESE REGIONAL WINNERS BECAME THE NATIONAL FINALISTS
WA — Jordi Sullivan – Canning Swim School – City of Canning
VIC — Alexandra Keratianos – Berrydale Swim School – Sunbury
SA — Tabitha Lewis – Buoyant Swimming and Aquatics – Strathalbyn
NSW — Lisa Coleborne – Pete’s Swim School – Queanbeyan West
QLD — Danielle Kneen – Sam Riley Swim Schools – Brisbane
REGIONAL
HIGHLY COMMENDED
SWIM SCHOOL COORDINATOR / MANAGER
NSW — Goran Rajchinoski – Sutherland Leisure Centre – Sutherland
NSW — Leanne Russell – Swim Experts – Minto
NSW — Samantha Newson – Swim Experts – Minto
QLD — Jade Hornbuckle – Rackley Swimming – Parkinson
VIC — Deaane Gilham – Let’s Swim Swim School – Newport
VIC — Hannah Smith – BlueFit Swimming-Bacchus Marsh – Maddingley
SWIM SCHOOL GROWTH
NATIONAL GOLD (AND NSW GOLD)
SWIM SCHOOL GROWTH
Carlile Swim – Caringbah
Watch the Hall of Fame Inductee Videos
View the photos from the 2025 ASSA Awards night and SPARK Conference 2025
ASSA Members can download high-res images for free (you’ll be asked your email)
