Who We Are
Your Community Swim Centre
Valentine Swim Centre is a community-run aquatic facility proudly supporting Lake Macquarie and Newcastle. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment where people of all ages and abilities can build water confidence, improve fitness, support rehabilitation, and enhance overall wellbeing.
Our centre provides a unique blend of swim education, hydrotherapy, and wellness services in one place. We deliver high-quality lessons led by nationally accredited instructors, with programs ranging from water confidence and learn-to-swim through to development, squad, and adult swimming. We also offer specialised programs for swimmers with additional needs.
As a key provider of hydrotherapy and physiotherapy services, we support people living with disability, older adults, and those recovering from injury, with a strong focus on mobility, rehabilitation, and overall well-being. We also offer a range of group fitness and wellness programs, including aqua fitness and inclusive disability exercise classes, YWCA and U3A, and partnerships with valued community organisations, Let’s Move Lake Mac. These programs provide water therapy and support recovery, rehabilitation through to lifelong health, while creating opportunities for low-impact exercise, connection, and social well-being in a welcoming environment.
We proudly deliver specialised learn-to-swim and squad programs for people with additional needs, led by Ellena Morris — a fully accredited disability swim teacher, Australian swimming coach, and Special Olympics coach.
What sets us apart is our diverse facilities, comprehensive programs, and renowned water confidence pathways, all underpinned by a strong community focus. Guided by our values of community, positive culture, and customer experience, we lead with compassion, collaboration, and accountability in everything we do.
As a not-for-profit organisation, we reinvest into our facilities, programs, and community to ensure continued access to high-quality aquatic services for all.
Our History
Our story began in 1966, when the facility opened as the Hunter District Pool for the Disabled, providing essential access to aquatic therapy within the community.
In 1990, the organisation became Valentine Hydrotherapy Pools Inc., strengthening its role as a leader in hydrotherapy and rehabilitation services. Over the years, the centre has continued to evolve, with key upgrades including hydrotherapy pool renovations, additional 15m training pool, and improved amenities to better serve the community.
In 2022, Valentine Hydrotherapy Pools Inc. and Valentine Swim School merged, combining expertise in swim education and therapeutic care under one organisation.
Today, as Valentine Swim Centre, we continue to build on this legacy — offering a unique combination of swimming, rehabilitation, and wellness services, all driven by a commitment to inclusion, community, and care.
