What an incredible few days at the Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA) SPARK 2026 Aquatics Conference at QT Gold Coast.
Bringing together leaders, educators, suppliers, operators and passionate professionals from swim schools, aquatic facilities and the wider leisure industry from across Australia, SPARK 2026 was an opportunity to connect, learn, reflect and look towards the future of our industry.
For City Venue Management (CVM) and Rackley Swimming, it was also an opportunity to come together as a team and proudly represent the breadth of people who contribute to our aquatic operations across Queensland.
A strong CVM and Rackley Swimming presence
We were incredibly proud to see so many members of our team in attendance throughout the conference.
From Directors and Senior Management, to Regional Managers, Facility Managers, Swim School Managers, instructors and team members, SPARK brought together people from across our organisation who share a common passion: creating outstanding aquatic experiences and making a positive difference in the communities we serve.
Having such a broad cross-section of our team attend was a valuable reminder that the future of aquatics is shaped by people at every level of an organisation.
Every swim teacher who builds confidence in a nervous swimmer.
Every Swim School Manager who supports their team.
Every Facility Manager who creates a welcoming and safe venue.
Every Regional Manager who helps teams perform at their best.
Every leader who challenges us to think differently.
Together, these people form the foundation of our industry.
Taking our place in the national conversation
We were particularly proud to see members of our leadership team take to the stage throughout SPARK 2026, contributing their experience and perspectives through panel discussions, Hot Seat sessions and keynote presentations.
Being able to share our experiences with colleagues from across the country — while also listening to the experiences of others, created an important opportunity for open conversations about where the aquatic industry is today and where it needs to go next.
The challenges and opportunities facing our industry are bigger than any individual swim school, facility or organisation. They are shared across the sector, making collaboration and knowledge-sharing more important than ever.
SPARK created a space to ask important questions, challenge established thinking and consider what the future of aquatics could look like.
Looking back, looking forward
One of the most valuable aspects of SPARK 2026 was the opportunity to look at our industry from every angle.
What has the past taught us?
The aquatic industry has evolved significantly over generations. The way people learn to swim, engage with facilities, communicate with organisations and experience aquatic environments continues to change.
What are we doing today?
Today, our focus extends well beyond the swimming lesson itself. Customer experience, technology, communication, workforce development, safety, accessibility, community engagement and operational excellence all play a role in how people experience our venues and programs.
And where are we heading next?
That question is perhaps the most exciting of all.
The conversations at SPARK explored the future of leadership, innovation, technology, workforce, customer experience and the changing needs of our communities. They challenged us to think beyond what has always been done and consider how we can continue to improve.
For us, learning from other organisations is an important part of that process.
Hearing from swim schools and aquatic operators from across Australia provided new perspectives, practical ideas and plenty of inspiration to bring back to our own teams.
More than swimming lessons
At CVM and Rackley Swimming, we know our responsibility extends beyond delivering swimming lessons.
Learning to swim is an essential life skill, but the experience surrounding that learning matters too.
We want every person who walks through our doors to feel welcomed, supported and valued.
That means creating experiences that delight and engage our customers, delivering exceptional customer service and ensuring our people have the support, knowledge and tools they need to succeed.
It also means continuing to create safe, welcoming and inclusive aquatic environments for everyone — regardless of age, experience or ability.
Safety remains at the heart of everything we do.
Our industry has an important role to play in building water confidence, developing essential swimming and water safety skills and helping create safer communities. But we also have an opportunity to create spaces where people feel connected, included and confident in and around the water.
Learning from each other
Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of the aquatic industry is its people.
SPARK 2026 brought together people with different experiences, backgrounds, roles and perspectives, but with a shared commitment to improving the industry.
There was an opportunity to celebrate what is working, acknowledge the challenges we face and learn from the organisations and individuals tackling those challenges in new ways.
For our team, the conference reinforced the importance of continuing to ask questions, sharing knowledge and being willing to evolve.
Because innovation does not always mean completely reinventing what we do.
Sometimes it means taking something that already works and finding a better way to deliver it.
Sometimes it means listening more closely to our customers.
Sometimes it means investing in our people.
And sometimes it means having the courage to challenge an idea that has always been done a certain way.
Inspiring the next chapter
We returned from SPARK 2026 inspired, challenged and excited about what lies ahead.
The conversations we had, the people we met and the ideas we brought home will continue to influence the way we think about our work and the future of our venues, programs and teams.
As leaders in the aquatic industry across Queensland, we recognise that we have an important role to play in helping shape that future.
We don’t simply want to respond to change. We want to understand it, contribute to it and, where we can, help lead it.
Because the future of aquatics is something we don’t just want to watch unfold.
We want to help shape it.
Continuing to learn, lead and make a difference
A huge thank you to the Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA) and Aquatics & Recreation Queensland (ARQ) for bringing together such an inspiring group of people for SPARK 2026, and to everyone who contributed their knowledge, experience and passion to the conference.
Most importantly, thank you to our CVM and Rackley Swimming teams who represented our organisation throughout the event.
Whether on stage, in the audience, in a workshop, having a conversation between sessions or simply connecting with another passionate aquatic professional, every interaction contributed to a bigger conversation about our industry’s future.
We are proud of our people, proud of the work we do and excited about where we are heading next.
Here’s to continuing to learn, lead, innovate and make a difference in the aquatic industry. 🏊♂️💙
