Rachel’s passion for swimming recognised with top award

Rachel’s passion for swimming recognised with top award

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Rachel Morgan receiving her 2024 Teacher of the Year award.

A local instructor has been named the 2024 Swim Teacher of the Year by Royal Life Saving WA.

The Armadale Fitness and Aquatic Centre’s Rachel Morgan was announced as this year’s winner in September.

With over 17 years of experience in competitive and open water swimming, Rachel’s passion for the sport has been the driving force behind her successful career as a swimming instructor.

The award recognised her deep-rooted enthusiasm which shines through in every lesson, and her ability to create a supportive and encouraging environment, ensuring that each student leaves feeling valued and respected.

AFAC management said her natural ability to engage, motivate, and inspire makes her an exceptional teacher. And that her dedication to inclusivity is especially evident in her work with Active Abilities students, guiding individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions with respect, sensitivity, and care.

She extends the same level of attention to multicultural adults, fostering an inclusive and respectful learning atmosphere that builds trust.

Beyond her teaching roles, Rachel actively participates in community initiatives. Her involvement in events such as the Starlight Super Swim and Royal Life Saving’s ‘Don’t Drink and Drown’ campaign highlights her commitment to promoting water safety and engaging with the broader community.

Having the best swim instructor in the state is not AFAC’s only flex.

On October 11, centre staff took home their third major award in three months.

AFAC was named Quality Accredited Business of the Year – AUSactive, making them the best recreation centre in Australia for AUSactive, which is recognised by the federal government as the peak body for fitness accreditation and education in Australia.

The Quality Accredited Business award is the highest award a business can achieve within the fitness industry from AUSactive.

To gain accreditation, businesses must demonstrate their commitment to industry best practices and principles, which are elements of the AUSactive National Quality Business Framework.

If that wasn’t enough, AFAC was also awarded SwimSAFER Award of Excellence 2024 by SWIM Australia for the second year in a row.

SWIM Australia has over 50,000 members and more than 600 swim school registrations across the nation.

Since opening in 2019, AFAC Swim School has grown from 700 to over 3,900 students by March 2024.

In 2023 and 2024, AFAC was named as the WA Ambassador for SWIM Australia in water safety awareness.