OUR STORY
Great Southern Swimming Club has its roots in Strathalbyn, where the Club began in 1935.
For generations, local swimmers have trained, raced and built friendships through the Club. The opening of the Fleurieu Aquatic Centre created new opportunities for year-round swimming, and the Club evolved into Great Southern Swimming Club to better reflect the wider community it now serves.
Today, GSSC continues that long regional swimming tradition across the Fleurieu, supporting swimmers from their first experience of club swimming through to State and National competition.
While much has changed since 1935, the purpose remains familiar: help people swim well, enjoy the sport and feel part of a Club.
More than laps
GSSC is a community built around swimmers learning and improving together, families sharing the work that makes community sport possible, coaches supporting long-term development, and everyone contributing to a safe, respectful and positive environment.
We want swimmers to improve in the water, but also to develop confidence, independence, resilience, friendships and a positive connection with sport that can last well beyond their next race.
That means being part of GSSC comes with opportunities - and a few shared responsibilities. We don’t expect everyone to contribute in the same way or pursue the same goals. We do expect everyone to play a positive part.
BELONG
Be part of the team.
Know your teammates, welcome new swimmers and help create a Club where people feel included.
GROW
Keep learning.
Challenge yourself, respond to feedback and recognise that progress looks different for every swimmer.
SUPPORT
Build others up.
Encourage teammates, celebrate their progress and contribute positively when things are going well, and when they’re not.
CONTRIBUTE
Play your part.
Swimmers, families, coaches and volunteers all contribute to the Club in different ways.
FOR OUR SWIMMERS
YOUR SWIMMING. YOUR TEAM.
We want swimmers to pursue their own goals while recognising that the way they train, compete and treat others helps shape the experience of everyone around them.
Listen to your coaches, engage with the session, ask questions and make the most of the opportunities available to you.
Encourage swimmers at every level, celebrate their achievements and help newer or younger swimmers feel part of the group.
Not every session will feel easy and not every race will be a PB. Learn from feedback, mistakes, challenges and successes.
Treat coaches, teammates, officials, volunteers, pool staff and competitors well.
Your experience matters. Ask questions, share ideas and talk to a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right.
FOR OUR FAMILIES
SUPPORT THE SWIMMER. SUPPORT THE CLUB.
Families are a major part of a swimmer’s sporting experience and of the Club itself.
Times and results matter, but so do skills, confidence, effort, friendships, resilience and enjoyment. Ask what they learned, how they raced and what they enjoyed, not only what time they swam.
Our coaches are responsible for technical direction, training and race guidance. Parents and carers have an equally important role in providing encouragement, perspective and practical support.
Community swimming depends on volunteers. Timekeeping, carnivals, fundraising, events and other jobs are shared across Club families. Most require no previous swimming experience.
Respectful communication with coaches, officials, volunteers, other families and swimmers sets the standard children see around them.
As swimmers grow, encourage them to pack their own equipment, speak with their coach, understand their training and gradually take responsibility for their sport.
WHEN WE COMPETE
ONE CLUB, WHEREVER WE RACE.
Swimmers are free to enter any competition for which they are eligible. Some meets are identified by GSSC as targeted or team events, but our standards do not start and stop with those meets.
Whenever a swimmer competes as a GSSC member, they represent the Club.
Show respect, good sportsmanship and appropriate behaviour towards teammates, coaches, officials, volunteers and other clubs.
Encourage teammates, recognise their races and contribute to a positive GSSC presence on pool deck.
Where GSSC coaches are attending, swimmers should follow their technical and race guidance and check in with them as requested.
Families may be asked to assist with timekeeping or other duties allocated to GSSC. Sharing these responsibilities is part of making competition possible.
Additional arrangements may include team seating, coordinated warm-ups, coach and Team Manager directions to keep the day organised, give younger swimmers a clear and supportive environment, and make it easier for teammates to encourage one another.
OUR PEOPLE
A swimming club is shaped by far more than what happens in the water.
Our coaches lead swimmer development and provide the technical expertise behind the training program. Our volunteer Committee provides the governance, administration and organisation that keeps the Club running. Our Club Captains give swimmers a voice and help build the positive, supportive culture we want across GSSC.
Together with our wider group of families and volunteers, they make the Club possible.
VOLUNTEERING
GSSC is a volunteer-supported community club.
Behind every training program, carnival and competition is a group of people helping with things such as timekeeping, events, fundraising, Team Manager duties, officiating, uniforms, administration and Club governance.
You don’t need to understand competitive swimming before helping. Many roles are simple to learn, and there are opportunities to contribute occasionally as well as more formally.
We don’t expect every family to do everything. We do ask members to share the work reasonably so that the opportunities our swimmers enjoy don’t depend on the same few people every time.
SAFE SPORT
Everyone has the right to feel safe and welcome at GSSC.
We are committed to creating an environment where children and young people are respected, listened to and supported, and where swimmers, families, coaches and volunteers understand the standards expected of them.
Our Safe Sport information explains:
the rights of children and young people
expected behaviour for swimmers and adults
the responsibilities of coaches and volunteers
how to raise a concern or ask for help
the policies and integrity frameworks that apply at GSSC.
If something doesn’t feel right, we want people to know where to go and feel comfortable speaking up.