Aquatics & Recreation Victoria

 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 & 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺! We’re bringing together industry leaders, changemakers, and passionate professionals for an impactful day of learning, connection, and action. Together, we’ll explore how to make leisure spaces more inclusive for all. 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝑨𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅? ✅ Gain insights from expert speakers. ✅ Network with like-minded professionals. ✅ Take home actionable strategies to drive inclusion in your work. 📅 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Thursday 13 February 2025 📍 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Zinc, Federation Square, Melbourne 🎟️ 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀: https://lnkd.in/gWPXCKc7 👉 Tag your colleagues and friends who’d love to join this journey! *𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 AUSactive 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 5 𝘊𝘌𝘊 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥.

As featured on Nine & 7NEWS Australia, we proudly launched the 2025 VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program joined by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll at Werribee Outdoor Pool (WynActive). With drowning incidents on the rise across Victoria and Australia in the past year, programs like VICSWIM are more vital than ever. They empower kids with the skills and confidence needed for a lifetime of fun and safety in the water. 🏊♀️ Over 170 venues and 17,000 kids aged 4-12 have already embraced this incredible initiative! Together, let’s make water safety a priority for every family in Victoria. #VICSWIM #WaterSafety

🌟✨ 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗥𝗩!✨🌟 As we welcome 2025, we reflect on the incredible support from our community, partners, and team members. Together, we’ve achieved so much—and we’re excited about the opportunities this new year brings. 💙💚 Here’s to setting new goals, embracing fresh challenges, and celebrating our collective success along the way. 𝐿𝑒𝑡’𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 2025 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦! 🎉

✨ 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.