It’s rare to get 100 swim teachers and facility managers off the pool deck and in a shared space together.
But this was the scene in Sydney on Tuesday 3 June 2025 when a cohort came together for the launch of AUSTSWIM’s new online Safeguarding Professional Development for swim teachers, in a three-hour workshop on this subject.
The event’s keynote and facilitator Phil Doorgachurn – a global expert in safeguarding children and young people – has also partnered with AUSTSWIM to develop the online training.
He said 6 out of 10 children in Australia have experienced abuse – making it imperative that anyone working with children knew how to identify and manage risks, to keep children safe, and teach and support them.
“What keeps children safe is people – you in the room – and that’s generally done by building awareness and educating others.”
Officially launching the PD was Brad Maunsell, AUSTSWIM CEO, and Georgie Nichol, General Manager, who emphasised the importance of the training for all swim teachers.
The event also featured an inspiring panel discussion with AUSTSWIM Chair Melinda Crole, aquatics leader Dan Skakavak, and veteran swim teacher Bec Goodman.
Following the event, feedback was overwhelmingly positive – with an average enjoyment rating of 4.84/5, and nearly 96% of participants indicating they would attend another AUSTSWIM PD session. The launch also highlighted strong interest in future topics such as managing challenging behaviours, inclusive aquatics, and leadership mentoring.
The new Online Safeguarding PD is now live and available to all swim teachers across Australia!
🔗 Explore the course.