Aquatics & Recreation Victoria

✨ 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗥𝗩 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺! ✨ As the holiday season begins, we want to extend our warmest wishes to all our members, sponsors and supporters. 𝑯𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆, 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒅.🎄 Thank you for being part of our community this year – we’ve loved working with you and can’t wait to achieve even more together in 2025!

🌟 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 🌟 We’re excited to announce the return of the 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺, back for its third year! 📅 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Thursday, 13 February 2025 📍 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Zinc, Federation Square This is your opportunity to join industry leaders, professionals, and changemakers as we explore bold ideas and strategies to advance diversity and inclusion in the leisure sector. 🎟 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸! Stay tuned for program details and an inspiring lineup of speakers. Let’s drive positive change together. #DIForum2025 #DiversityInLeisure #InclusionMatters

Today, we had the pleasure to tour the recently re-opened Fawkner Leisure Centre. Congratulations to Merri-bek City Council, YMCA Victoria and everyone else who played a role in implementing the brilliant upgrades of this centre for the community. Be sure to go and experience this great new venue within our industry!

ARV congratulates Board Member Ben Tudhope on his recent appointment as CEO at Aligned Leisure. We wish Ben every success in his exciting new role.

Today is 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆, and kicks off 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. We encourage everyone to enjoy the water this summer, and want you to be aware of the risks for both yourself and your loved ones. Last season, 59 people’s lives were cut short in Victorian waters. It is more important than ever we brush up on our skills and educate people around us of the risks. Join us in spreading the message and making water safety a priority. Stay up to date on key events, resources, and initiatives by visiting the Life Saving Victoria website: https://lnkd.in/ggvCn62S. And follow both LSV and ARV on social media for important updates throughout the week. Together, we can help save lives. Royal Life Saving – Australia #WaterSafetyWeekVic

🌟 Celebrating the Future of Leadership in Aquatics and Recreation 🌟 Last week, ARV had the privilege of recognising the incredible achievements of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 graduates. This program represents so much more than just leadership development—it’s about transformation, growth, and unlocking the potential of emerging leaders in the Victorian Aquatics and Recreation Industry. Across the course of the program, these 29 exceptional individuals challenged themselves, collaborated with peers, and embraced every opportunity to grow. Their dedication to personal and professional development has been truly inspiring. 🎉 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁: Joanna Paxinos – Westerfolds Sports Centre Nathan Bird – Clublinks Pty Ltd Quinlan Donehue – Southern Grampians Shire Council Kellie McKay – Clublinks Lisa Williams – Clublinks Bridie Chesterfield – YMCA Victoria Jordan Wise – Glen Eira Leisure Rebecca Koklas – Aligned Leisure Rachel Fisher – Hume City Council Taylah Simpson – Hume City Council Natasha Wainshtein – Hume City Council Rebecca Rosel – Warrnambool City Council Stacey Washburn – Belgravia Leisure Kiera McGivern – City of Greater Geelong Rob Tregellas – City of Greater Geelong Gaston Freddi – Peninsula Leisure Kallan Randle – The Y Alexander Pupillo – Clublinks Alanda Packer – The Y Alannah Morrow – Brimbank City Council Claire McCarthy – Aquamoves, Shepparton Cheok Io Lou (Yoyo) – Whitehorse City Council Lauren Basto – Western Leisure Services Adam Mildenhall – Belgravia Leisure James Harris – Belgravia Leisure Jordan Prior – State Sport Centres Kylie Herriott – Belgravia Leisure Evie Ogier – ARV Samuel Bell – ARV ✨ Special Acknowledgments A huge thank you to our major sponsor, PerfectGym Solutions, Australia & New Zealand for your continued support of the EMERGENT Program. Your partnership makes this initiative possible, and we are so grateful for your belief in developing industry leaders. To program facilitator Jim Plunkett, your guidance and expertise have been invaluable. Thank you for leading this incredible cohort and shaping their journeys. We look forward to having you back for the 2025 edition of EMERGENT. Lastly, to the mentors and participants—thank you for your dedication, passion, and commitment. You are the future of this industry, and we are honoured to support your ambitions. We cannot wait to see the incredible leaders you will become. Here’s to growth, leadership, and an exciting future for Victorian Aquatics and Recreation! 🌊

Last Thursday, Ikon Park became the epicenter of the Victorian fitness and wellness industry as over 100 professionals gathered for a fantastic day of insights and inspiration. Welcomed by ARV sponsor Life Fitness Australia, settting the stage with a message of collaboration and community, before Chris Alexander from AUSactive delved into 2025’s fitness trends, giving us a glimpse of what lies ahead. Former AFL legend Nathan Buckley acted as our keynote speaker for the event, sharing his personal journey, lessons he’s learned, and his unique perspective on leadership. His Q&A session on transitioning from player to coach to media personality sparked valuable conversations about growth and adaptability. Further presentations explored topics such as the future of fitness, with Owen Bowling (Coach Welly) captivating us with how AI & technology can revolutionize member engagement, while Hannah Battista (YMCA Victoria) demonstrated how inclusivity can make fitness more accessible to all. A dynamic panel featuring Adam White (Life Fitness Australia), Daniel Pollard (Les Mills Asia Pacific), Emmett Williams (Myzone®), Jarrod Reid (PLAE), Marietta Mehanni & Liz Pommer dove into innovations in equipment and programming, giving practical tips for evolving with the times. With industry leaders Bridie Chesterfield (YMCA Victoria) , Jayden Cox (Belgravia Leisure), and Jackie Babington (Aligned Leisure) sharing strategies for overcoming challenges such as member retention and staff development, as Christopher Rivera reminded us of the importance of team wellbeing, with actionable tips to foster a positive workplace culture. Finally, Kara Blute from Carlton Football Club gave us a fascinating look into sports science, demonstrating how data is shaping player performance and wellbeing. The event concluded with an exclusive tour of Ikon Park’s world-class facilities—a fitting end to a day dedicated to pushing boundaries. Thank you to Life Fitness Australia for making this event possible. Your support continues to inspire us all to build a stronger, more connected industry.

🌊 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗺 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! Be part of something amazing this summer! VICSWIM relies on the passion and dedication of 300+ swim teachers to deliver vital water safety lessons across the state. We’re now recruiting for the 2025 program and need enthusiastic teachers to join our team at locations statewide. This is your chance to take on a fun and rewarding role that makes a real difference in your community! ☀️🏊♂️ Please note - we're looking for team members who hold their 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗳 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘇𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 to work at open water locations in teaching, lifeguarding or supervisor roles. If this is you, please apply.   📅 Vacancies are filling fast—don’t miss out! Apply today: https://lnkd.in/dG5fuJeG #SwimTeachers #VICSWIM2025 #WaterSafety

🌟 Exciting Opportunity for Fitness Industry Professionals! 🌟 Join us at the 𝘈𝘙𝘝 𝘍𝘪𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 & 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 on Thursday, 21 November, where we’ll explore the latest trends and strategies shaping the fitness and wellness landscape. But the value doesn’t stop there! Our friends at Active management are hosting the 𝘍𝘪𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘉𝘪𝘻 2024 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵 on Friday, 22 November, at the COMO Hotel in South Yarra. This dynamic breakfast includes three powerful sessions on: 🌐 Global Industry Trends That Impact You Locally 🤝 Attracting Talent with Ease 🛠️ Mastering the Sales Process 𝘈𝘙𝘝 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘉𝘪𝘻 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 $100 – 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 $80! 📅 Secure your spot at both events and supercharge your expertise. Double the knowledge, double the value! Purchase tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gw534Ysa #ARVFitnessSummit #FitnessBiz2024 #Networking #IndustryInsights #ProfessionalDevelopment

𝗬𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, where we explored the future direction of the Aquatics and Recreation Industry. We were fortunate to have expert guest presenters—Jacqui O'Dwyer from Aligned Leisure, Marty Moran from Royal Life Saving – Australia, and Ryan Mifsud from Belgravia Leisure—each sharing their unique philosophies and forward-thinking insights on the future of the aquatics and recreation industry. They also highlighted key innovations and strategic directions within the industry before engaging in a dynamic Q&A session with our emerging leaders. A huge thank you to 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆, and 𝗥𝘆𝗮𝗻 for their invaluable time and for sharing their deep expertise! Our 2024 EMERGENT participants are now gearing up for their graduation on 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟮 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. We’re incredibly proud of their journey and excited to see where their leadership takes them! #Leadership #Aquatics #Recreation #Innovation #FutureLeaders