The Future of Aquatic, Recreation and Sports Facilities
Swimming and water-based leisure has always been part of societies culture and no more so than in Australia, with swimming being one of Australia’s most successful Olympic and gold medal sports.

As time changes, our multi-cultural Australian society is looking for more than just the traditional 50m pools; with family water, waterplay and wellbeing water spaces being requested more and more. The International Association for Sport and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) published their IAKS Future Trends for Pools booklet in 2019 and Australia was represented on this global panel by facility expert, Warren Green. The key Future Trends identified included:
  • Swimming is regaining importance
  • Immersing in a lifelong healthy lifestyle
  • Pools turning into wellness hubs
  • Fun for children and families
  • Designing for inclusivity
  • Competing demands on public fitness
  • Pools as places for socialising
  • Improving economics
  • Sustainable and healthy pools
  • Digital transformation
  • Safe and secure pools
  • International harmonisation of demand
  • Diverse development of market
  • Fight for talent
  • Scarcity of space
  • Good design
The full document can be sourced at HERE.

In addition, we will have key speakers including:
Prof. Alfonso Jimenez, Chief Research and Innovation Officer, Ingesport-GO fit (Spain) will explore how the commercial sector is investing in Europe to provide a health and social benefits for the community
Paige Buse, Manager, Glen Eira Leisure – Exploring the future of community health and wellness for Australian leisure centres
Brooke Atkins, General Manager Recreation, YMCA (NSW) – Re-growing visitation through community wellbeing
Panel Members include:
Nick Cox, Chief Executive Officer, Belgravia Leisure Shane Dunne, Chief Executive Officer, Aligned Leisure Todd McHardy, Chief Executive Officer, BlueFit
Warren Green, IAKS Pools Panel Member Dan Kwaczynski, President, ALFAQ
Brett Diprose, Associate Principal, Warren and Mahoney Architects Kim Critchley, Aquatic and Leisure Services Contract Manager, Moreland City Council
Over the three cities the panellists and speakers will explore what the future of aquatic, recreation and leisure centres need to look like if they are going to meet the needs of the broader community.
These workshops are made possible with the support of
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Each NSC Forum has limited tickets to attend in person, with options available to participate virtually online if not able to attend personally.

With online e-delegate tickets from only $99 +GST, it is expected that demand will be high for delegates in each city to attend, and the first few weeks of registrations are demonstrating that.
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~ The National Sports Convention Team
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