The Exchange Webinar Series : insights for swim people
The Exchange webinar series brings together practical, relevant professional development for swim teachers, leaders, and swim school operators across Aotearoa and beyond.
Throughout the series, you’ll hear from an inspiring mix of New Zealand and international speakers on topics that matter, from swim teaching and programme delivery to leadership, growth, and the day-to-day realities of running a swim school. Big school or small swim schools, city-based or rural, new to the industry or decades deep, this series is for you:. It’s free for everyone, no memberships, no affiliations, no conditions.
PD matters. For years, swim school professionals across Aotearoa have looked for professional development that’s accessible, relevant, and grounded in real swim school life. This series exists because of that call. I’ve invited respected colleagues and sector experts to generously share their knowledge, experience, and perspectives with the New Zealand swim school community . . . our community.
Why You’ll Want to Be There. This series is about energising and strengthening the swim school sector. Each session is designed to help you:
Build confidence and capability in your role
Gain fresh insights into best practice and emerging thinking
Walk away with ideas you can actually use. . . straight away
How to Get Involved:Access is easy. Email me your interest and you’ll receive the unique link for each live webinar.
It Costs Nothing: Every session is free. Each presenter, like me, is giving their time to give back to the industry that has shaped us.
Who Should Attend: Anyone involved in swim schools, swim clubs, or swim programmes. From brand-new swim teachers to highly experienced professionals and leaders.
Save the dates. Spread the word: this is professional development made for swim schools. 1-2pm (NZ) on the last Wednesday of each month.
If you have any questions or want to join The Exchange webinar series, reach out using the contact button below.
Laura McNab
Saskia Kirby
Linda Holmes
Gabbi Anderson
Ozren Vulekic
Natalie Lanfear
Danni Turner
Mel Rickwood
Wednesday August 26th, 1-2pm NZ time
Beyond Learn to Swim: Bridging the Gap to Lifelong Aquatic Participation
This session explores why swimming lessons shouldn’t stop once children can “swim.” It highlights the importance of continuing beyond learn-to-swim for long-term safety, confidence, fitness, and connection to aquatic environments. Danni will share how Swimsation is addressing the “missing middle” - often seen as the bridge between swim school and competitive swimming, creating pathways with the aim of keeping young people swimming and engaged in aquatics for life. Competitive swimming is only one of the options available to young swimmers - an option which interests only a few. This session will share Swimsation’s success story on what they are doing to continue the aquatic journey for the majority of swimmers who reach the pinnacle of a LTS school.
Danni has been part of the learn-to-swim sector for over 25 years. I started part-time as an instructor while studying, working my way through swim school management to my current role as General Manager at Swimsation (Auckland. NZ)
Even now, I still put “Swim Instructor” on my airport travel card, because, truthfully, it’s still the best part of my job. I am in the pool each week in my happy place.
As a mum to two teenage boys, the reality of New Zealand’s drowning statistics has deepened my passion for water safety and the bigger question of how we keep people swimming and engaged in aquatics for life because ultimately, that is what makes them.
Wednesday September 30th, 1-2pm NZ time
Building Strong Foundations – the Fundamentals of Learn to Swim for School Aged Children
With nearly four decades in aquatics, Mel Rickwood brings a wealth of real-world experience, practical knowledge, and passion to this essential webinar for swim educators and swim school teams.
As the owner of Aquatics Down Under Swim School in Sydney’s North Rocks, Mel leads a thriving operation teaching more than 1,500 children every week with a team of 35 staff, all from a unique shopping centre location. Across her 38-year career, Mel has shaped the industry as a teacher, assessor, mentor, presenter trainer, international speaker, water safety advocate.
Her practical and engaging session will explore:
• Developmental stages in school aged swimmers
• Learn to swim progressions from beginner to competent
• Teaching strategies and effective class management
• Overcoming common teaching challenges
• Embedding water safety into every lesson
Whether you are a swim teacher, supervisor, coordinator, or swim school owner, this webinar will provide practical takeaways and fresh insights to strengthen your programme and support better swimmer outcomes.
Mel’s philosophy is simple — strong foundations create confident swimmers for life.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the aquatic industry’s most respected and experienced educators.
Your feedback on 2026 webinars.
March 2026: Why a Child Is Not Progressing: Understanding the Body Behind the Swim.
Laura McNab: Occupational Therapist. Creator of the RISE nervous system literacy framework, Brisbane, Australia.
“I could have had another 4 hours of it, it was great knowledge/thought provoking.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed the full webinar. It was a great way to kick start the season - I came away with lots of thoughts / ideas on how I can explain to the team what/why we do things.”
“One thing I’m likely to apply in my work is balancing progress with a deeper understanding of each student’s responses by observing their movements and behavior. By recognising how the body communicates through these signs, I can prioritise creating a safe, predictable, and supportive environment, allowing me to deliver more effective and responsive lessons.”
“It was great, I'd be keen for a longer session.”
“There was a lot of information which was exciting.”
“Laura - keep sharing and encouraging others aquatic instructors to look at their client as an individual and what the persons needs.”
“As a swimming teacher, it has given me a deeper understanding of what is truly happening in class when students show specific signs or movements. Being aware of the possible causes also helps me deliver more effective lessons.”
“This was so relevant to my role that I spend in the water & training staff. We have reached out to Laura - we strongly believe the team hearing it from Laura with all her passion as the expert will be far more powerful.”
April 2026: The 10 Commandments of Swim School Marketing and the Customer Journey.
Saskia Kirby, CXO, Carlile Swim.
“The topic and the content that Saskia shared were both significant and highly practical for our daily operations. Because she covered the essential points so effectively and clearly, I found the session complete and very helpful.”
“Great webinar session. Thank you again, Saskia.”
“I found the section on social media most valuable. Especially the emphasis on sharing tips and useful content instead of just running ads. It shifted my thinking towards building stronger connections and providing value to our audience. We are getting there but still plenty of room for improvement!”
“By understanding how my role as a teacher supports the organization, I can better understand how our families perceive our services. This perspective allows me to ensure that everything I do is intentionally designed to contribute to the growth and success of the swim school.”
“Really enjoyed it.”
May 2026: It’s Not Deafness, It’s Communication: Practical Inclusion for Swim Schools
Community Partnership Manager: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Foundation NZ
“Kia ora Scott - that was a great presentation from Linda!”
“The most valuable part of the webinar for me was learning about the importance of intentional inclusion and understanding how small adjustments in communication and teaching methods can create a more supportive and effective learning environment for deaf or hard of hearing students. It was also valuable to become more aware of out-of-the-pool considerations, such as the possibility that parents, grandparents, or caregivers may also have the same condition, and how important it is to communicate and support them effectively as well.”
“Thank you so much. My homeschooled daughter and I learnt the signs together at the end of the session, which I aim to use while teaching my lessons”
“Many thanks Linda. New insights and ideas are always very welcome so we can make our environment and classes as accessible as possible to all.”
“Thank you so much, Linda, for taking the time to share this significant topic with us. The session gave me a deeper understanding of intentional inclusion and reminded me how important it is to make every student and family feel seen, supported, and welcomed. I’m grateful for everything I learned and inspired to apply these lessons to my own teaching moving forward.”
“My takeaway was significant especially around the adapting of my teaching methods to meet the needs of every student. This reinforces the idea that effective swim instruction is not just about teaching skills, but also about creating an environment where every student feels safe, understood, supported, and capable of succeeding”.
“One thing I am likely to apply in my work as a result of this session is being more intentional about gathering all the necessary information about our students so we can make the appropriate adjustments when needed and provide better service and support for every learner.”
June 2026: Your people are your brand
Gabbi and Ozren - Rec Alley gym club (Sydney)
“I've always believed that employees are the backbone of any company, and one thing Rec Alley has done really well is intentionally creating an environment where employees feel happy, supported, and have opportunities to grow. Thanks for today’s session. I picked up some really useful ideas around surveys and data collection that I can apply straight away.”
“I can definitely see myself adapting some of those questions for our school programmes. Plenty of practical takeaways that I’ll be putting to good use.”
“Great Presentation. Congrats on your success. Thanks for sharing in such detail.”
“Thank you so much for sharing. Amazing turn around, and many gold nuggets for swim schools. Looking forward to seeing 30 by 2030. Thanks again.”
“Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences. Being a fellow gymnastics club manager, it was great to have some of my own ideas validated and new ideas given in a context that makes sense to me. I admire both of you for your cohesive approach to making change and improvements and having each other's back! Your presentation was amazing, thank you again.”
July 2026:Teaching, or improving how you teach? Reflective Teaching Practices in Swim Lessons
Natalie Lanfear: Todd Energy Aquatic Centre. New Pymouth. NZ
“Really enjoyed the reflective teaching models. We will go through these with our instructors and ensure each instructor reflects on what they are seeing in the pool and can use the models to apply to their teaching.”
“Thank you, Natalie! Well stated on all points - I appreciate both your tools and your expertise.”
“Thank you, Natalie. Great presentation and so much great information shared. The work you put into sharing and creating resources for everyone to use is very appreciated.”
“Great to have you in the industry Natalie - I enjoyed your Reflective Teaching webinar.”
“Thank you, Natalie, for sharing your information and knowledge. Also for the hand outs, which I can see will be very useful to use - especially the Stop- Go cards with swimming faults and corrections.”
“Thank you so much. There are a few instructors on my team who struggle to self-reflect so this session and resources is very helpful.”
“The most valuable part of the webinar for me was learning how to apply reflective teaching in my regular group classes, especially when there is more than one student who needs help at the same time.”
“DMR, I can see myself using this model regularly as a simple and effective way to reflect on my teaching and make better decisions for each student.”