Australia's global contribution to the evolving pool and spa industry
Australia and New Zealand’s contribution to the global swimming pool and spa industry was on full display at the recent World Alliance of Pool and Spa Associations (WAPSA) meeting, held alongside the Piscine Global Expo 2024 in Lyon, France. This event showcased the industry’s collective commitment to innovation, sustainability and professional development.
The Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Australia and New Zealand (SPASA) played a pivotal role in WAPSA’s inaugural training and education survey. The survey aimed at benchmarking global training and education initiatives, represents a collaborative effort to improve workforce development across the global industry. It featured participation from 13 organisations, covering topics such as digital training platforms, workshops, and qualifications in areas like water chemistry, safety standards, and business management.
Survey insights revealed a shared global focus on advancing skills to meet industry challenges, such as sustainability, safety, and technological innovation. For instance, initiatives like France’s integration of advanced calculators for compliance and the UK’s development of domestic pool maintenance qualifications underscore the global effort to raise industry standards.
Derived from the survey, common global challenges include attracting skilled labour, maintaining competitive wages, and offering flexible working conditions to match evolving industry needs. Similarly, the need for education around business ethics and management was identified as critical to elevating service quality.
Most organisations expressed willingness to share training materials with non-competing WAPSA members to build a collective repository of knowledge and resources. Learning from mistakes and discussing them anonymously at workshops is seen as a powerful tool for improvement.
Australian leadership in training and education
As part of its ongoing commitment, SPASA has prioritised continuing professional development (CPD), mentoring and the development of formal qualifications. The organisation is also actively sharing its training materials with other WAPSA members, promoting a culture of open collaboration.
Key findings from the survey highlighted Australia’s robust framework for training, including mandatory qualifications for licensing in some regions. These efforts place Australia at the forefront of workforce development in the pool and spa sector.
Australia’s influence extended to the exhibition floor at Piscine Global Expo, where local brands such as AIS Water, Davey and Waterco showcased their latest innovations. Global companies with significant Australian market presence – including Fluidra, Maytronics and Pentair – highlighted technological advancements in automation and sustainability.
In parallel, Australian visitors engaged with international peers to exchange insights and forge new partnerships, further demonstrating the region’s active role in shaping industry trends.
The path forward
The WAPSA congress and its ongoing initiatives emphasise that the future of the pool and spa industry lies in collaboration and innovation. By collaborating with global discussions on training, environmental sustainability and safety, Australia is not only elevating its own standards but also contributing to the industry’s worldwide growth.
The next step involves building on the survey’s findings to implement strategies that address workforce shortages and advance professional standards. With its commitment to knowledge sharing and education, Australia is poised to remain a leader in this ever-evolving topic.
