Gould Swim Academy

24/08/2026

08/08/2026

MEET OUR TEAM – CHARLIE 💙

For Charlie, Gould Swim Academy really has come full circle.

Charlie started swimming lessons at Gould when he was just 8 months old, after moving to Albury with his Mum and Dad. He continued right through to squad level and, having always loved the water, remembers being inspired by two of his favourite teachers, Kristy and Annette. Even when he was young, Charlie would say that one day he wanted to become a swim instructor himself.

And now here he is, proudly wearing the Gould rashie! 💙

Charlie loves helping his students develop their skills and watching their confidence grow in the water. There’s something pretty special about now working alongside some of the very people who played such a big part in his own swimming journey.

Outside the pool, Charlie lives with his parents, younger brother Flynn, sister Tilly and his Mini Schnauzer, Milo. He’s also incredibly musical, playing saxophone, piano and guitar, and loves performing on stage. He’s appeared in local productions including The Lion King and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and you may have spotted him singing at Albury Carols by Candlelight last year.

And his fun fact is a pretty impressive one… 🎶

Later this month, Charlie will perform at the Sydney Opera House as part of the backing choir for The Cat Empire!

Charlie’s advice to our swimmers is simple:
“Have fun and always try your best!”

We absolutely love seeing one of our own Gould swimmers come full circle and become part of the team. 💙🏊‍♂️

05/08/2026

MEET OUR TEAM – JESS 💙

Meet Jess, another one of the teaching team that you'll find on pool deck at Gould Swim Academy.

Jess joined the Gould team within the last year after making a career change, and we're so glad she did. With a lifelong love of swimming and a passion for helping others, teaching swimming has been a natural fit.

Originally moving to Albury when she was 18, Jess has called the region home ever since. She is a proud mum to Julian, Hannah and Jocelyn, wife to Dave, and dog mum to Sunny. Family is at the heart of everything she does, and that caring nature shines through in every lesson she teaches.

For Jess, the water has always been her happy place. She loves being able to pass on that same love of swimming to the next generation while teaching one of life's most important skills, water safety. Watching swimmers grow in confidence and ability is what makes every day worthwhile.

When she's not at the pool, you'll find Jess enjoying the outdoors, travelling, spending time with family and friends, planning her next cruise, or getting creative with resin art.

What makes Gould special to Jess is the brilliant, caring team she gets to work alongside every day.

Her advice for new swimmers and their families is simple:

"Safety first, practice and more practice... and most importantly, have lots of fun!"

Jess also lives by a quote from John Lennon that perfectly reflects her outlook on life:

"When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment and I told them they didn’t understand life”

03/08/2026

MEET OUR TEAM – ERIN 💙

Meet Erin, one of the newest members of the Gould Swim Academy team!

Erin is currently completing her traineeship with us, learning all aspects of the swim school. From working behind the scenes in the office to teaching in the pool, she's embracing every opportunity to learn, grow and develop her skills.

Growing up in Tallangatta with her parents and four sisters, Erin has always enjoyed being active. She played netball until she was 17 and also spent three years playing water polo, giving her a great appreciation for being in and around the water.

After being encouraged by a friend to give swim teaching a try, Erin joined the Gould family and we're so glad she did!

Her favourite part of teaching is watching our students grow in confidence and ability each week. She loves celebrating their progress and hearing all of the wonderful stories they excitedly share during lessons.

Outside of work, you'll most likely find Erin camping with family and friends or spending quality time with her nieces.

When asked what makes Gould special, Erin didn't hesitate:

"The family like community and amazing group of people I get to work with every day."

We're so excited to have Erin as part of the Gould team and can't wait to see where her journey takes her. 💙

01/08/2026

MEET OUR TEAM – SOPHIE 💙

Meet Sophie, one of our young but experienced swim teachers here at Gould Swim Academy.

Many of our families will know Sophie, having taught hundreds of children over the past 5 years. Her honest nature and ability to build genuine relationships with both swimmers, their families and her workmates, make her a much loved member of our team.

Having grown up around the pool, teaching has become second nature to Sophie. She understands that every child learns differently and has developed a wonderful ability to adapt her teaching to suit each swimmer, helping them build confidence while achieving fantastic results. Sophie often gets results with children who have had trouble progressing in the past. She speaks their language and meets them where they are at.

Outside of Gould, Sophie enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching her beloved Hawks play footy, camping, spending time with her nephew Kade and travelling. She's always happy to share a laugh and have a chat and thoroughly enjoys getting to know her students and families well. She is super organised, remembers everything and often tells other staff, usually Nadine, her Mum, what she should be doing! 😂

As a teacher, Sophie is kind but firm, clear and consistent. She creates a calm learning environment where children feel comfortable to challenge themselves, celebrate their achievements and enjoy coming to lessons each week. Her swimmers continue to make excellent progress, which is a credit to the care and effort she puts into every class.

Watching Sophie grow from one of our youngest teachers into the confident and capable instructor she is today has been incredibly rewarding. She has become an important part of the Gould Swim Academy family, and we know she will continue to make a positive difference in the lives of so many young swimmers.

Thanks for everything you do, Sophie. We're incredibly proud of the teacher you've become and grateful to have you as part of our team. Keep up the amazing work! 💙👏

01/08/2026

MEET OUR TEAM – ESHA 💙

Meet Esha, one of the friendly faces you'll find on pool deck at Gould Swim Academy.

Esha is a proud mum to three boys who knows exactly what it's like to sit on the sidelines as a swim parent. In fact, that's where her Gould journey began.
While watching her boys during their swimming lessons, Esha decided to send an email asking what she needed to do to become a swim instructor. That simple decision led her to become part of the Gould team, and she's never looked back.

For Esha, the most rewarding part of teaching is seeing the excitement on a child's face when they achieve something new. Whether it's their first independent swim, mastering a new skill or simply building confidence in the water, she loves being part of those special moments while teaching children a skill that could one day save their life.

Outside of the pool, family is everything. Esha loves spending time with her three boys and creating memories together on family adventures. Home is always busy too, with two dogs, a cat and a bunny keeping everyone company!

A fun fact about Esha?

She's one of six children and grew up with five brothers!

When asked what makes Gould Swim Academy so special, her answer was simple:

"Gould is a safe space and the love shared through the swim community grows stronger every day."

For families starting their swimming journey, Esha encourages plenty of conversations before lessons, arriving a little early and, most importantly, trusting your instructor.

"We have lots of love to give."

It's a sentiment that perfectly reflects the caring environment she helps create every day.

Her favourite quote is one that inspires both swimmers and life in general:

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."

Thank you, Esha, for the kindness, encouragement and positivity you bring to Gould Swim Academy. We're so lucky to have you as part of our team. 💙

31/07/2026

MEET OUR TEAM – NADINE 💙

If you've been around Gould Swim Academy for a while, chances are you've met Nadine! With almost 15 years at Gould, she's one of the familiar faces many families know and love.

Nadine is married to Brad, is Mum to Emily, Sophie (yes, swim teacher Sophie) and Luke, and proudly answers to her favourite title of all, NiNi to her two-year-old grandson, Kade.

Outside the pool, she's heavily involved in community sport as one of the driving forces behind the Corowa Rutherglen Female Football Club, where she's passionate about creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed, valued and like they belong.

Swimming has always been part of Nadine's life. She taught while studying high school and university before taking time away to raise her family. When she decided to renew her Austswim qualification, she completed her practical hours at Gould Swim Academy... and never left! Nearly 15 years later, she still says she has the best job in the world. Even living in Rutherglen and her and Sophie commuting in every day is worth it for the work environment.

For Nadine, teaching swimming has never felt like work. Every day is filled with laughter, proud moments and the privilege of watching children achieve things they never thought possible. Whether it's a baby's first splash, a nervous swimmer finding confidence, someone nailing their technique or hearing excited holiday stories about adventures in the water, it's those relationships with children and their families that make every day special.

Many people don't realise Nadine was once an elite diver, representing Australia at the World Junior Games and winning numerous national age group titles. Today, her competitive focus has shifted to the football field, where she and Brad continue to invest countless hours supporting young female footballers in the local community.

What makes Gould so special to Nadine isn't just the swimming, it's the people. She believes Gould is far more than a workplace; it's a family. A place where staff genuinely care for one another, celebrate each other's successes and share the incredible privilege of teaching a life saving skill while having fun every single day.

Her advice to new families is simple: Enjoy every minute! Childhood passes so quickly. Trust the process, don't put pressure on your child, celebrate the little wins and remember that learning to swim is about so much more than strokes. It's about confidence, resilience and creating memories together.

Favourite quote:

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

30/07/2026

MEET OUR TEAM – STACEY 💙

Meet Stacey, one of the biggest personalities you'll find on pool deck at Gould Swim Academy!

Originally from Canberra, Stacey moved to Albury 20 years ago, quickly fell in love with the region and decided it was the perfect place to raise her family. She's now a proud mum of two daughters, and between work and driving them to all of their extracurricular activities, life is always busy.

Like many of our staff, Stacey's Gould journey started as a parent. Both of her girls learned to swim at Gould with Kristy, Annette and Nadine. Knowing Stacey would soon be heading back to work once her youngest started school, Kristy invited her to give teaching swimming a try. Stacey thought she'd have a trial and see if she liked it.

She never imagined it would become one of the best decisions she'd ever make.

"I still sometimes can't believe people pay me to do this. I love it that much!"

The best part of her job is the connections she builds with children and their families. Watching little swimmers grow, not just in their swimming ability, but in their confidence, is something she never takes for granted.

"I feel so privileged that I get to be part of their journey."

When she's not on pool deck, Stacey loves spending time with her gorgeous daughters. Whether it's camping, floating down the river, reading a good book, cooking or catching up with friends, she's happiest making memories with the people she loves.

And if you ever challenge her in the pool...
She can do an almost perfect underwater handstand and a pretty impressive bomb!

For Stacey, Gould is much more than a workplace.

"It's the relationships. Gould feels like a family, and I know some of my friendships with workmates will last a lifetime. I also love that I never have to pretend to be someone I'm not. I'm accepted for the loud, outgoing person that I am."

Her advice to new swimming families is simple.

"Enjoy being in the water. Swimming is an incredible life skill, but it's also supposed to be fun. The more you enjoy it, the more your children will too."

And the motto she lives by?

"Don't make yourself small for anyone. Be the awkward, funny, intelligent, beautiful little weirdo that you are. Don't hold back... weird it out!"

Thank you, Stacey, for bringing your energy, laughter and genuine love of people to Gould Swim Academy every single day. The place just isn’t the same when you’re not there. Your enthusiasm is infectious, and our swimmers, families and your workmates are so lucky to have you. 💙

29/07/2026

CONGRATULATIONS SIENNA!

And on the last night of swimming at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Sienna Toohey has completed her set of medals with a GOLD in the 4x 100 medley relay.

🥇🥈🥉

An absolutely incredible meet for her, Mia and all their team mates. The future of Australian swimming is very bright indeed!

29/07/2026

💙 MEET OUR TEAM – BELINDA 💙

Meet Belinda, one of the friendly faces you'll find on pool deck at Gould Swim Academy.

Belinda has been part of the Gould family for the past three years and has developed a wealth of skills during that time. Her caring nature, patience and ability to connect with children have made her a wonderful teacher and an important part of our team.

After looking for a career change and wanting a role that brought more job satisfaction, Belinda stepped into the pool while on long service leave to help out and she quickly discovered a passion for helping children develop confidence, independence and lifelong water safety skills.

One of Belinda's favourite parts of the job is seeing the smiles on our students' faces and the incredible trust they place in their teachers. Watching children achieve things they never thought possible is what makes every day so rewarding.

Outside of work, Belinda enjoys spending time with her husband and son, hitting the golf driving range, relaxing in the kitchen with some cooking, and tending to her veggie garden. At home she's also kept busy with her daughter Charlotte, Charlie (12), Will (6), two dogs, a cat and six chickens….and if she had her way, she'd probably have a whole farm!

We're so grateful to have Belinda as part of the Gould Swim Academy team. Her genuine passion for helping children shines through in every lesson she teaches.

💙 Thanks for everything you do, Belinda!