Knowledge, skills and practical experience wrapped up with an abundance of passion establish a great foundation for a motivating and educating session.  Maria has been acknowledged by many organisations for her work in the aquatic disability field. As an AUSTSWIM teacher, presenter and Inclusive facilitator on the WETS team, Maria is able to demonstrate her philosophy that “all participants deserve to achieve, feel safe and enjoy the aquatic environment”. 

• Commenced teaching Learn to swim in 1984
• Employed by RLSSQ in 1990 as a field officer
• Employed by RLSSQ for 15 Years in training and development
• AUSTSWIM presenter  1994-1999
• Self employed for 2 ½ in Lifesaving and First Aid training
• Executive Director RLSSQ October 2008 to present

Other - Competitor – Swimming, Pool Lifesaving- Royal, Surf Lifesaving, Coach - Pool Lifesaving- Royal, Surf Lifesaving, Swimming  (not current)

Gail has worked for the YMCA for 19 years. She has been involved in Aquatic Education teaching, coordinating the Access Program and is currently the Aquatic Director of the Northcote YMCA. She has a dedicated passion for the special needs community. Her contribution towards creating and implementing communication aides and coordinating the access program is testament to this. Furthermore, Gail has been the worthy recipient of many prestigious awards for her motivated passion throughout the years.

Mark Frazer is the Swim and Survive Co-ordinator for the Royal life Saving Society Queensland. His role involves engaging swim school, state schools and independent schools in Queensland and developing swim and survive in these areas. Also Mark is a volunteer Lifesaver and brings valid experience from other industries including the AFL.  

With over 19 years in the aquatic industry coupled with her studies in Health and Physical Education and Child Development, Alina brings a passion to the teaching of swimming in all ages and ability levels. Also as a current presenter of AUSTSWIM courses in Qld, she has a strong philosophy in providing development opportunities for current and prospective swimming teachers.

Roz celebrates 31 years in our industry this year, with a career beginning as a swim teacher / lifeguard, Fitness leader and Operations Coordinator of Warringah Aquatic Centre to her current position as Facility Manager at Royal Life NSW Aquatic Safety Training Academy. She also, has delivers Certificate III & IV in Community Recreation and Sport & Recreation for a Register Training Organisation.

She holds a Cert IV Assessment and Training, Diploma of Business, Advanced Diploma of Business (Human Resource Management), Cert IV OHS as well as Statement of Attainment in Aquatic Operations & Supervision.

For the past 5 years Roz has been a member of NSW Austswim Advisory Council and a committee member of Aquatic and Recreation Institute.

Jean has been involved in the aquatic industry for more than 50 years starting as a teenager. Jean presents statewide for AUSTSWIM in all five areas and for Life Saving Victoria. She is regional coordinator for VICSWIM and coordinates the holiday programs for the Gippsland area.

Jean and her family have an indoor heated pool in rural Victoria and have 1,200 participants per week, working with all ages from 6 months to 83 [our oldest swimmer. Jean lecturers at university and was a PE teacher and Integration Coordinator for 44 years and was awarded the Australian Sports Award in 2000 and the British Commonwealth Life Saving award in 2004. She also a life member of both primary and secondary school sports associations for her work towards including all students, some with disabilities in sports programs.

Jean specializes in disability aquatics with her current focus on Early Childhood Intervention through aquatics for infants with disabilities or developmental delay.

Ranay is based in Wollongong, 100km south of Sydney, she often finds herself teaching mixed ability adult lessons due to the smaller population base. Ranay enjoys teaching swimming to anyone of any age with any abilities. Ranay presents for AUSTSWIM as well as teaching Learn to Swim.

Bradley has been involved with the Aquatic industry as a swimming instructor, swim school coordinator and program manager.  Bradley has a passion for providing people with disabilities with positive aquatic experiences.  This passion culminated with the development of “UQCanSwim!”, a swimming education program conducted at the University of Queensland.

Bradley currently works in training and workforce development within the fitness, sport and recreation industry and is also heavily involved with AUSTSWIM, where he is currently vice-chairperson of the Qld State Advisory Committee.  He is a course presenter and presents regularly at Swimming and Water Safety conferences.

Les Mole is a current Board Member of Royal Life Saving and Kidsafe, both in Queensland and Nationally. He is also on the Board of ALFA Queensland. His experience spans many decades in the aquatics industry as a competitor, official and administrator. He held the position of Executive Director of Royal Life Saving Queensland for eleven (11) years.

Susan Mothershaw has worked in aquatics for over 14 years as an instructor, coach, swim school manager and owner. Her qualifications include AUSTSWIM, Bronze Coach and Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment and she is currently completing her AUSTSWIM Presenter training.

Susan has a passion for in educating swimmers, staff and fellow industry colleagues and also learning from them in return.

Justin Scarr is the Chief Operating Officer at Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, a role that sees him drive key water safety, drowning prevention and organisational development initiatives through a diverse and highly skilled operational team. Since 2004, Justin has been actively involved in the challenges of reducing child drowning in low income and middle income countries in Asia, including Bangladesh, Thailand and Vietnam in partnership with The Alliance for Safe Children. This experience has resulted, not only in significant steps towards eliminating drowning in these targeted communities, but in the identification of strategies that are changing the way that Royal Life Saving approaches the challenges of reducing drowning in Australia. Justin is the International Lifesaving Federation’s Drowning Prevention Commissioner, and the Event Director of the next ILS Conference to be held in Danang, Vietnam in May 2011.

22 years in aquatics & still being surprised & challenged.

I have a swim school in Tasmania working with many very passionate swimming teachers.   I now concentrate more working with  people with disabilities and adult beginners.

Interests outside of swimming include SES Search & Rescue Team, cycling and travel.

Leanne is the aquatic director for Ballarat YMCA.  She is a foundation member of the Y’s Aquatic Task Force, is recognised as a specialist in regional aquatic services where her 18+ years experience nurtures and assists the develop of aquatics throughout regional Victoria.  

Julia has been the owner of Parkmore Swim Centre in Keysborough for the last 5 years.  She has been teaching swimming for almost 25 years and has a wealth of knowledge and information to share.  She trained as a Phys Ed teacher in the UK and came to Australia ten years ago where she fulfilled her dream and bought a swim school.  She is passionate about the grass roots of swimming believing that without little gumnuts there will never be big gum trees.  She likes to think outside the square with innovative teaching ideas and practices and still gets teary when the small people master their challenges.