Swimming Australia is the peak governing body for competitive swimming in Australia. The body has approximately 100,000 registered members nationally in 1100 clubs across the country, which includes swimmers, coaches, officials, administrators and volunteers. The body oversees the management and development of the sport from the national team at the elite level, the conduct of national and international events, through to grass roots participation.
In 1985, the organisation had approximately 90,000 registered members.
History Competitive national swimming championships were first held in 1894. Australia had swimmers at most major international swimming events since the 1896 Summer Olympics.
This interest led to the creation of the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia, the precursor to Swimming Australia, which was founded in 1909 at a meeting of state swimming representatives at the Sports Club on Hunter Street in Sydney's CBD. There they established a charter which included the key features of the promotion of uniformity of rules and regulations across Australia; the adjudication all matters of disputes between affiliated associations; the control and management of swimmers visiting Australia; the control and management of Australian representatives in any contest of international nature; and control the recognition of all "best on record" performances.
Within a short time the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia had extended its charter to include negotiation with the recently formed International Swimming Federation (Fédération Internationale de Natation, FINA).
James Taylor was the foundation president and served for the first 35 years of the body's existence from 1909 to 1944.
During 1985, under a new corporate structure, the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia was incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory and became Australian Swimming Inc.
On 1 October 2004, Australian Swimming became a company limited by guarantee and changed its name to Swimming Australia Ltd. Glenn Tasker served as the chief executive officer until June 2008, and the organisation's headquarters is located at Unit 12, 7 Beissel Street, Belconnen, ACT. In 2013, Mark Anderson was appointed CEO.
The Australian Swim Team underwent a rebranding in 2014 and was renamed the Australian Dolphins Swimming Team.
In 2022, it established the Swimming Australia Hall of Fame.
Swimming Australia supports and runs the Swimming Australia National Training Centre at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
Australian Swimmers of the Year Swimming Australia announces a number of awards annually, most notably the Australian Swimmer of the Year Award.
Year Winner State1990Glen HousmanQueensland1991Hayley LewisQueensland1992Kieren PerkinsQueensland1993Kieren PerkinsQueensland1994Kieren PerkinsQueensland1995Susie O'NeillQueensland1996Susie O'NeillQueensland1997Michael KlimVictoria1998Michael KlimVictoria1999Ian ThorpeNew South Wales2000Ian ThorpeNew South Wales2001Ian ThorpeNew South Wales2002Ian ThorpeNew South Wales2003Ian ThorpeGrant HackettNew South WalesQueensland2004Jodie HenryQueensland2005Grant HackettQueensland2006Leisel JonesQueensland2007Libby LentonQueensland2008Stephanie RiceQueensland2009Jessicah SchipperQueensland2010Alicia CouttsQueensland2011James MagnussenNew South Wales2012Alicia CouttsQueensland2013Cate CampbellQueensland2014Cate CampbellQueensland2015Bronte CampbellEmily Seebohm Queensland South Australia2016Kyle ChalmersSouth Australia2017Emily SeebohmSouth Australia2018Cate CampbellQueensland2019Ariarne TitmusTasmania2021Emma McKeonNew South Wales2022Mollie O'CallaghanQueensland2023Mollie O'CallaghanQueensland2024Kaylee McKeownQueensland2025Kaylee McKeownQueensland
Stakeholders and affiliations Swimming Australia's key stakeholders includes: Swimming New South Wales Swimming Victoria Swimming Queensland Swimming South Australia Swimming Western Australia Swimming Tasmania Swimming Northern Territory Swimming ACT Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA) Australian Swimmers Association
Swimming Australia is affiliated to the following bodies: The Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) The Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) Oceania Swimming Association Australian Water Safety Council
Whilst the following organisations are affiliated with Swimming Australia: Australian Waterpolo Association Inc Australian Diving Association Inc Australian Synchronised Swimming AUSSI Masters Swimming in Australia
Swimming Australia is also a foundation member of AUSTSWIM and is involved in the development of an Australian Water Safety Organisation.
Sexual abuse allegations In July 2014 the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, a Royal Commission of inquiry initiated in 2013 by the Australian Government and supported by all of its state governments, began an investigation into the responses of the Offices of the Directors of Public Prosecutions in Queensland and New South Wales to determine whether to prosecute allegations of child sexual assault; the response of Scone Swimming Club to the convictions of Stephen John Roser for indecent assault and for committing acts of indecency against a child; and related matters. Six former students, a number of swimming executives, government officials, Margaret Cunneen , Anthony Moynihan , Nicholas Cowdery , Lloyd Babb , The Honourable Justice Leanne Clare and Paul Rutledge gave evidence or made statements before the Royal Commission. The Royal Commission heard from women who alleged they had been abused as children and that despite informing officials, the alleged perpetrators did not face criminal trial on the basis of recommendations provided by government prosecutors in both New South Wales and Queensland. In April 2015 Swimming Australia president John Bertrand issued an apology to former swim students who were victims of sexual abuse.
Allegations against various swimming coaches were reported as first aired in the media up to ten years earlier; and new cases were alleged following the Royal Commission hearings.
See also Diving Australia Swim Kids Swimming ACT
References
External links Official website
Swimming Australia Team interviewed by students Australian Olympic swimmers admit using sedative