Swimposium Educator Roadshow 2026
EVENT DETAILS
The ASSA Swimposium Educator Roadshow will visit seven cities across Australia and New Zealand in June 2026. Events run as full-day sessions and include morning tea, lunch and all materials.
Dates and locations (venues to be confirmed):
Swimposium is open to ASSA members and non-members. Member pricing applies.
The Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA) has confirmed the return of its Swimposium Educator Roadshow for 2026, following a highly successful inaugural series that brought together swim educators from every state and territory across Australia and New Zealand.
The Swimposium series visited seven cities in 2025, welcoming 383 delegates and featuring more than 50 industry speakers delivering practical, teacher-focused professional development directly to swim school teams at a local level (australianswimschools.org.au/assa-swimposium-2025-wraps-up). The response exceeded expectations, with attendees rating the events 9.3 out of 10 and 94% saying they would recommend the experience to a colleague.
“Funny, engaging and informative. I took away heaps of knowledge,” said Courtney from New Zealand. “Practice is progress.”
Luke Daly, CEO of the Australian Swim Schools Association, said the energy from the first round made the decision to bring it back an easy one.
“The numbers were great. But what surprised me was what people actually did with it,” Mr Daly said. “Teachers went straight back to their pools and changed how they ran a class. Managers told us they wished they’d brought more of their team. The conversations over lunch were just as valuable as the sessions themselves.”
That sentiment was echoed across the feedback. Heidi from Queensland said it simply: “Teach to the person in front of you. Not everyone fits in a box. FUN is so important.”
Vics from New South Wales, a teacher of 32 years, said “the biggest thing I learnt was that even though you train your team constantly, don’t presume they know what you know.”
Matt from New Zealand took away “the fun element. Class high-fiving each other, not just the instructor. Create the environment the children want to come to.”
The 2026 program has been shaped by detailed attendee feedback and built around what the industry told ASSA it needs most.
A Program Built by SwimSchoolers, for Swim Schools.
Each Swimposium event will be tailored to its local audience, but the 2026 program draws from a pool of sessions that may include:
- Inclusive teaching for neurodivergent and additional needs learners, with practical tools and takeaway resources
- Babies, toddlers and the developmental science behind infant aquatics
- Behaviour and class management strategies for the pool environment
- Adult learn-to-swim, addressing aquaphobia and the psychology of adult learners
- Culturally responsive teaching for diverse communities
- Practical stroke introduction, teaching techniques and drill ideas
- Teacher development, career pathways and professional growth
“The feedback was clear. Teachers want practical tools they can use straight away. They want real time to connect with other people who get it. So that’s what we’ve built this around,” Mr Daly said.
Nikiesha from South Australia said she valued “learning from and with other passionate swim educators.” Jessica from New South Wales loved that “it went to each state and allowed us to bring along more staff so they could also benefit.”
Investing in the People Who Teach Australia to Swim
Mr Daly said the Swimposium series reflects what ASSA exists to do as the peak body for swim schools across Australia and New Zealand.
“When your teachers are better, your business is better. When your business is stronger, the whole industry lifts. That’s the cycle we’re trying to drive,”
Mr Daly said.
“The people on the pool deck deserve great professional development where they are. Not just once a year at a national conference. Swimposium is how we make that happen.”
Belinda from Queensland
captured the spirit of the event:
“As swim teachers we can learn from each other. Keep educating ourselves and be open to new ideas.”
Media contact: Luke Daly
Mob: +61 414 086 858
