AusLeisure

A partnership between Water Polo Australia and facility manager Aligned Leisure has seen a spike in participation in one of the country's leading aquatic sports.

Aligned Leisure recently partnered with the national governing body to help broaden the services Water Polo Australia (WPA) can offer the community and in turn to provide its customers with additional opportunities in the water.

The concept is part of WPA's Project 10x Strategy - to expand its participation base 10-fold to over 200,000 participants from all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels over the next 10 years.

The partnership includes $20,000 in funding for equipment to support interactive water polo activities included within learn to swim programs and supporting the provision of Summer Splash Programs - social water polo programs for both adults and youth at Aligned Leisure centres.

Additionally, Aligned Leisure supported water polo in being added as a Commonwealth Games sport for the 2026 Victorian Games, leveraging its managed facilities in the Albury/Wodonga area.

This partnership supports WPA by providing access to Aligned Leisure facilities for National and Junior Championships, Australian Water Polo League (AWL), and the Victorian Phoenix water polo team training venues.

To support WPA through this period of growth, Aligned Leisure will also contribute specialised membership modelling support to WPA management, alongside the inclusion of Aligned Leisure's Strategic Projects Manager, Jacqui O'Dwyer, on the WPA Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Steering Panel.

Proud of the partnership with Aligned Leisure, WPA Chief Executive, Richard McInnes advised “partnering with Aligned Leisure has already helped us to exceed initial Project 10x targets, which would not have been possible without their support.

"With centres across Victoria and into NSW, we feel that Aligned Leisure has the reach to bring our game to more participants, which is what this is all about. We thank them very much for their support and look forward to seeing more people in the pool playing water polo."

Expressing his belief that the partnership demonstrates how Aligned Leisure can drive community connection, while providing new, fun and safe opportunities for patrons, Aligned Leisure Chief Executive, Shane Dunne added “our partnership with Water Polo Australia shows the purpose of who we are and how we can support local, state, and national sporting bodies across Australia through our partner networks.

"This is an exciting time for all of us, with every conversation related to this partnership helping us uncover more opportunities to collaborate and drive improved community outcomes.

"We want to allow our customers and community members to have fun and enjoy the water, so exposing them to a new sport both competitively and socially is something we are thrilled to be able to do- while also providing excellent facilities for existing and elite players of the sport.

"We look forward to continuing to work with Water Polo Australia in the future and it benefitting people across our 41 facilities.”

WPA is the national governing body for the sport of water polo in Australia, charged with developing and educating water polo players, officials, coaches and volunteers.

Image courtesy of Aligned Leisure.

Related Articles

21st March 2023 - Aligned Leisure secures contract to manage Manningham Council Leisure Facilities

7th March 2023 - Home and away fixtures released for 2023 Australian Waterpolo League season

1st March 2023 - Anti Wave equipment selected for 2023 Coppa Italia water polo final

20th December 2022 - Aligned Leisure’s Jumpshots a key part of partnership extension with Nillumbik Shire Council

1st September 2022 - Water Polo Australia launches new strategy to expand its participant base

31st December 2021 - Water Polo Australia partner with News Corp in new national broadcast streaming deal

2nd December 2021 - Aligned Leisure names Eurobodalla Arts and Leisure Manager

20th October 2021 - New Balance to become Official Apparel Partner of Water Polo Australia

8th September 2021 - Water Polo Australia partners with Belgravia Group to promote long-term growth

12th August 2021 - Aligned Leisure’s work acknowledged with internationally recognised safety certification

16th March 2021 - News Corp broadcast deal set to boost exposure for Water Polo Australia

11th December 2020 - KAP7 extends partnership with Water Polo Australia across grassroots and high-performance

21st September 2020 - Aligned Leisure-Managed Eltham Leisure Centre secures swim safety excellence award

24th July 2020 - Aligned Leisure recommences learn-to-swim programs in Mildura and Wodonga

2nd June 2020 - Aligned Leisure commences reopening local and regional aquatic facilities

16th July 2018 - VICSWIM and Aligned Leisure forge new partnership to boost swim teaching

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.