Pool gets top honour

THE Austswim Awards of Excellence 2023 have highlighted a major Ballarat swimming facility.

Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre has been awarded the Victorian Swim Centre of the Year – Large gong.

City of Ballarat director of community wellbeing Matthew Wilson attributed the recognition to the centre’s staff who aim to keep people safe in and near water.

“This award is a huge honour for our swim school and reflects the outstanding outcomes our team has managed to achieve in the last 12 months amid nationwide swim teacher shortages,” he said.

“We’ve had students come in that are afraid of water, having not been able to develop their swimming skills before, and with the right program and support, been able to participate in school swim sports, with great success.

“We are so proud of each and every one of our swim teachers in being able to deliver an amazing program to our local community.”

More than 30 new swimming teachers were employed to the BALC swim school six months ago, and collectively they educate 1500 people across 400 weekly classes.

The annual Learn to Swim program also services 37 regional schools.

BALC will contest the National Austswim Awards.