14 August 2025
Insights from the 2025 Aquatic Recreation Conference and Trade Show
Last week, Royal Life Saving WA and Royal Life Saving Australia attended the 2025 WA Aquatic Recreation Conference and Trade Show, which brought together hundreds of aquatic professionals from across the state for two days of inspiring speakers, great conversations, and valuable networking opportunities.
The event was hosted by Leisure Institute of Western Australia (LIWA) Aquatics in partnership with Royal Life Saving WA over two busy days on 7-8 August at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Attendees included facility managers, pool lifeguards, swim teachers, swim school owners, regional staff, and industry partners, with more than thirty stalls featured on the trade show floor.
Royal Life Saving WA CEO Peter Leaversuch, Royal Life Saving Australia CEO Justin Scarr, senior management, and staff from across the state were in attendance. It was especially valuable for our Remote Pool Managers to connect and gather fresh ideas before returning to some of the most remote communities in WA for the upcoming season.
The trade show floor was bustling, giving our Training team the chance to chat with attendees about Pool Lifeguard, Swim Teacher and Aquatic Technical Operator courses, while the Swimming and Water Safety team caught up with swim schools and pool managers about programs like Swim for Fruit and Junior Lifeguard Club to encourage youth participation. Swimming and Lifesaving Programs Manager Amy Benjamin also did an excellent job facilitating the Swim School sessions, guiding engaging discussions and practical workshops.
The four conference rooms were filled with expert presentations, panel discussions, and keynote sessions covering leadership, inclusion, safety, and innovation in aquatic facilities. Senior Digital Marketing and Brand Manager Becca Osborn presented on harnessing the power of organic social media for swim schools, while RJ Houston from Royal Life Saving Australia spoke on the current state of aquatic facility infrastructure and future priorities.
Just some of the conference highlights included Olympian Peter Bol sharing his journey of determination and resilience to compete for Australia at Rio and Tokyo, Ocean Heroes founder Luke Hallam speaking on the importance of engaging students with diverse abilities, and AFL premiership-winning coach and captain John Worsfold offering his leadership insights. Binar Futures founder Adam Desmond and former-Wildcats player Andrew Vlahov OAM also showcased the power of sport and culture to create opportunities for Aboriginal youth through their presentation, while Dr Ryan Storr presented a comprehensive guide to the inclusion of Rainbow Communities in aquatic facilities, and Olympic Freestyle swimmer Blair Evans shared her personal story about mental health and the importance of mentoring in professional swimming.
Royal Life Saving WA was proud to be a main partner for both the conference and sponsor of the WA Aquatic Recreation Industry Awards, a night dedicated to celebrating excellence in facilities, safety, and programs across Western Australia. It was a pleasure to cheer on so many friends and partners as their hard work and achievements were recognised.
The annual Conference and Trade Show is an important opportunity for fostering relationships and ensuring our sector continues to grow and adapt. Those moments of connection between sessions or over a coffee in the trade hall are vital to share insights on issues from managing facilities to promoting water safety and drowning prevention.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible.
