The Shoalhaven is undoubtedly a region with a strong sense of community. And we have some incredible organisations whose sole focus it is to create a better community through benevolent activities.

This year we are excited to continue the Excellence in Community Service (not-for-profit) Award and recognise the achievements of not-for-profit organisations that are positively contributing to the Shoalhaven community through projects, services and/or through other long term initiatives.

This Award is sponsored by Waterways Swim School. We speak with Sian Silk, director of Waterways and find out about her own activities around community engagement, as well as the grand plans she has for growing Waterways in the very near future.

 

Why is Waterways Swim School sponsoring the awards?

• After attending the awards last year for the first time, we then wanted to contribute towards a well organised and spectacular event that supports & encourages the local business community.
• Because without sponsorship & volunteers events like this cannot be held. People wouldn’t be able to showcase their goals & achievements. We wanted to help make this happen.

 

Why are the awards important for the Shoalhaven?

• It recognises businesses & their achievements. It encourages businesses to network & collaborate together.
• Helps to promote businesses & growth.
• Because it doesn’t matter whether you’re a large company or a small business you give incentives for people to achieve their goals.

 

Waterways Swim School entered the awards, last year & won. What did that mean for your business?

• Winning the Excellence in Small Business award last year was, a great achievement for Waterways. This recognised not only the business owners but the great team behind it & their continuous efforts in providing the Shoalhaven with a skill for life.
• This then gave us new goals & incentives to strive & achieve. We can focus on ways to better service our clients and their needs.
• It gave the team a passion for our trade again.

 

What is different about Waterways Swim School?

• Waterways don’t just provide a service to our local community, we teach a skill for life which one day will save lives. We also provide our local community with health & fitness programs which betters our health & well-being.
• Waterways are well structured & disciplined within our services.
• Waterways is friendly & enthusiastic with a family orientated service. We strive to achieve client’s needs & satisfaction, (customer service is our No 1 priority).

 

What is on the horizon for Waterways Swim School?

Measurable goals:

• Proposing a business plan to work with Royal Life Pty Ltd.
• Bring out our own swimming brand.
• Looking at offering rehabilitation services & general fitness classes to the elderly community.
• Keeping our cliental rate high & satisfied with the service they receive.

Long Term Goals:

• Build a new Waterways Learn To Swim Centre.

(The design plans are made & quotes have been received. Just need to find the right property).

 

Why is it important for businesses to support the Shoalhaven community?

• To create jobs & career paths for school leavers.
• To create local jobs.
• To sustain growth within our area.
• To help fundraise for our local community, schools, sporting groups & charities.
• If you don’t support your local community, how can you sustain local business.

 

What does Waterways Swim School do to engage with the community?

• We donate gift vouchers for our local schools & churches to raise funds.
• Sponsor local sporting clubs & teams.
• Host school swimming programs & indigenous pre-school programs.
• Waterways supply a learning environment for children with special needs & hydro theory.
• Provide work experience for high school programs.
• Waterways support Austswim with training hours and licence qualifications for people gaining access & licences into our industry.

 

What advice do you have for businesses who have entered the Awards?

• Be honest, as there is never a wrong or right answer about your business.
• People just want to hear your career story and the efforts you & your employees have put into the business to have already made it successful. If you run a business then you are “successful”, you don’t need an award for this.
• Don’t be put off by people judging you & your business. Everyone is good enough to enter, it’s whether you have the guts to enter & put yourself out there, (each business is good in their own way).
• Last & for most, these awards make you re-focus on your own business. This will give you a new passion for your trade. With passion comes growth. If you are passionate about your business it will continue to grow. Many business owners can lose their passion & this awards ceremony creates that spark that a business owner can lose overtime.

 

Thank you to Waterways Swim School for sponsoring the Awards.