Club Development

Your Club - Your Success

Swimming WA is proud to be affiliated with more than 80 local swimming clubs right across Western Australia. From the metropolitan centres to the smallest regional towns, WA's local clubs are some of the strongest in Australia.

Swimming clubs in Australia are made up of swimmers, coaches, parents, officials and administrators providing a fun and safe environment for kids and parents alike, many offering or having links to learn to swim schools, coaches and training, fun club race nights, and a strong social program. If you are a member of a local club, you know how important your club is in supporting your ambitions in competitive swimming, while keeping swimming fun.
Here at Swimming WA, we can provide a range of resources and programs that can help your club grow.

Club Resource Guide

Swimming WA's Club Resource Guide is the definitive information resource that provides everything your club needs. You can download a copy of the guide part 1 or part 2, or alternatively you can contact Swimming WA.

Member and Child Welfare

Swimming Australia has two applicable policies; Member Welfare Policy (MWP) and Child Welfare Policy (CWP). The Member and Child Welfare Policies are an essential part of Swimming Australia’s proactive and preventative approach to tackling inappropriate behaviour. We are committed to ensuring that everyone associated with Swimming Australia complies with the Member and Child Welfare Policies and ask all members and stakeholders to assist us in promoting these policies wherever possible. It is the responsibility of everyone involved in swimming, to be aware of these new policies, as they are applicable to all Swimming Australia stakeholders, directors, employees, contractors, volunteers and members, whether they are in a paid, unpaid or voluntary capacity. The Member and Child Welfare Policies and Behavioural Guidelines, assist in ensuring that every person involved in the sport of swimming, is treated with respect and dignity, is safe and protected from abuse (see Policies).

Free Online Member and Child Welfare Course

As a sport, we are proud to lead the way in ensuring a safe and harassment-free sport for all members and are providing a free online course to assist in educating all swimming personnel. The purpose of this course and the new Member Welfare Policy is to define acceptable behaviour and what we can all do if unacceptable behaviour does occur. To sign up for the free online Member and Child Welfare Course click here.
The documents mentioned above can be found at Policies and Procedures.

Starting a new club?

Swimming is the highest participation sport amongst kids in Australia, but the success of swimming relies on local clubs. If your community is interested in starting up a new club, there are a number of steps you need to take. Contact the Club Development Coordinator at Swimming WA and request a Club essentials checklist as a guide for setting up your new club. Don't forget, the team here at Swimming WA is your greatest resource, so don't hesitate to get in touch with us and discuss how we can help you get your club started.

Club News

Superfins receive 5 Star status for Inclusion

Three clubs from across Australia have been named as leaders in inclusion after achieving a five star status under the new Inclusive Club Standard Program.

Swimming Australia Ltd (SAL) launched the Inclusive Club Standard Program in December 2011 with the aim of increasing the standards of inclusive swimming in Australia, by fostering an accessible and enjoyable environment for people with a disability.

Victoria’s Doncaster-Templestowe Amateur Swimming Club, Western Australia’s Superfins and Mount Anan Swimming Club in New South Wales, all scored 86% or above in the Program, giving them five star status and identifying them as leaders in inclusion.

The Program has been in development since 2009 and has been integrated into Swimming Australia’s major club development Program, GO Club PB. By completing the Inclusive Club Standard Program the clubs will be positively contributing to their overall Go Club PB results.

As the Program develops it could also have a long term effect on the base of talent for the Paralympic pathway and with less than 75 days until the Paralympic Games in London and the announcement of the Australian Paralympic swimming team imminent, it is a timely reminder to clubs that inclusion is vital to the future of our sporting success.

A total of 140 clubs participated in this year’s program, 14 of these from WA, with each club receiving individualised results from Swimming Australia, allowing them to set a benchmark and aim for year-on-year improvement.

South Lake Dolphins were also randomly selected to receive a $500 grant for participating in the program.

A full list of participating clubs can be found here

KIDSport - Sport for All program

Sport 4 All is a new $20 million state government initiative, which aims to build stronger, healthier, happier and safer communities! The initiative has four parts, KidSport, Community Volunteer Project, ClubTalk and Nature Play WA.

KidSport will assist eligible families to receive up to $200 annually for each of their children aged between 5 – 18 years, to subsidise fees to join a sport and recreation club.

Eligible families include those with health care cards or pension concession card, or those referred by other community groups, such as schools, juvenile justice teams, government agencies and health practitioners. These groups are known as referral agents.

The process for accessing KidSport is simple!

For more information regarding KidSport and the Community Volunteer Grants go to the Department of Sport and Recreation website http://clubsonline.dsr.wa.gov.au/sport4all or contact your local government.