Across Australia and New Zealand this March, the SwimSchooler and aquatic sector will come together for BOSS W – International Women’s Day events, celebrating the women who already lead, shape and safeguard one of the nation’s most trusted community industries.
Delivered in partnership with the Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA), Aquatic Recreation Institute NSW (ARI NSW) and Aquatic & Recreation Queensland (ARQ), the BOSS W series reflects an aquatic industry led predominantly by women across learn to swim, facility operations and community programs.
With an estimated 80 percent of the learn to swim and aquatic workforce identifying as female, aquatics stands apart as a sector where women lead at every level – from pool deck and plant room to boardroom, facility leadership and business ownership.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Balance the Scales, recognises that equality is not inevitable – it is built. While discriminatory systems and barriers still exist globally, the aquatic industry provides a powerful, practical example of what happens when women are trusted with leadership, responsibility and influence.
“Aquatics is a people-first industry, and women have shaped that culture for decades,”
said Hollie Johnson, of the Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA).
Women are at the heart of water safety
Australia remains a nation defined by water, yet drowning continues to disproportionately affect children and regional communities. Learn to swim programs remain one of the most effective frontline defences, and women deliver the majority of that education across swim schools, council facilities and community pools.
Swim teachers and aquatic professionals are often the first educators outside the family unit to build trust with a child. They support nervous beginners, children with diverse needs, multicultural families and communities with limited access to services. Many are also mothers themselves, reinforcing a powerful connection between professional expertise and lived experience.
According to sector data, women also make up the majority of casual and part-time aquatic employees, supporting flexible, family-aligned employment while maintaining high standards of safety, care and professionalism. These roles are critical to workforce sustainability and community access.
“The aquatic industry shows what is possible when leadership pathways are open, flexible and inclusive,”
said Suellen Goyne, Chair of ARI NSW.
“Women are not just participating in aquatics, they are leading teams, managing facilities, shaping policy and creating environments where both staff and patrons feel safe, welcome and supported.”
Excellence in action – Cass Evans
The impact of women in aquatics was nationally recognised at the 2026 ASSA Awards of Excellence, where Cass Evans of Streamline Swimming Centre was named National Gold – Swim Teacher of the Year.
A rural swim teacher serving multiple Central Queensland communities, Evans represents the quiet leadership that defines the industry.
“Splash, Learn, Laugh literally sums up all I am and all I do,”
Evans said.
“Kids learn more when they feel safe, supported and are having fun.”
Beyond lessons, Evans trains new teachers, supports schools, sponsors local clubs, and delivers water safety education across regional Queensland – ensuring no child misses out due to postcode or circumstance.
Her story reflects a broader truth: women in aquatics do not just teach swimming – they build confidence, capability and connection that lasts a lifetime.
Strengthening workplaces through connection
BOSS W events will be held across seven Australian cities and Auckland, New Zealand, offering a rare opportunity for women – and the men who support them – to pause, reflect and reconnect.
These gatherings are not just celebrations. They are deliberate investments in professional wellbeing, leadership confidence and human connection.
“The most effective aquatic facilities are managed by community minded people,”
said Jay Clarke, President of ARQ.
“When we invest in connection, recognition and inclusive leadership, the benefits flow directly to safety outcomes, staff retention and community trust.”
These events will bring together swim school owners, teachers, aquatic professionals and industry leaders to share achievements, strengthen networks and reinforce a collective commitment to inclusive, people-first workplaces.
Balance the Scales – together
While International Women’s Day is officially recognised on 8 March, the BOSS W series acknowledges that meaningful change is not confined to a single day. It happens through connection, recognition and shared purpose.
For ASSA, ARI NSW, ARQ and their partners, balancing the scales means ensuring that families – particularly the mothers who most often bring children to lessons – walk into swim schools and aquatic centres that feel safe, welcoming and professionally led.
It means workplaces where women can lead confidently, grow sustainably and feel valued for the vital role they play in keeping communities safe around water.
This March, the aquatic industry is sending a clear message – when women in aquatics thrive, everyone does.
Media enquiries and interviews:
Luke Daly & Hollie Johnson
Mob: +61 414 086 858 | Mob: +61 457 539 618
Event information
BOSS W – International Women’s Day Events
2nd & 3rd weeks March 2026 | Australia and Auckland, NZ
Event dates and locations available via the ASSA Events Calendar
