Older Adults update

23rd October 2026

A pre-conference workshop for aqua instructors, allied health, and exercise professionals seeking to better understand ageing participant in water and deliver sessions that are safe, inclusive, and purposeful.

9.30am - 4.30pm

Gunyama Aquatic & Recreation Centre

Sydney

SUPER EARLY BIRD PRICE (EXPIRES 14 JUNE 2026)

Through lectures, interactive classroom sessions, and in-water activities, this workshop is a hands-on and engaging experience. It explores how ageing bodies respond in the water and how instructors can adapt with clarity and confidence.

A Different Way to Think About Older Adult Programming

The Older Adults Update challenges the outdated idea that older adults in the pool simply want to move around without structure or purpose. It also challenges the assumption that fun and connection cannot sit alongside thoughtful programming.

Older adults deserve more than a casual splash. They deserve informed, progressive, and goal-oriented exercise, just like any other population.

This training gives instructors a framework they can apply straight away, one that respects the complexity of ageing bodies and minds. It positions older adult programming not as a soft option, but as a space for skilled, considered, and meaningful instruction.

Tailored for aqua instructors, allied health professionals, and exercise professionals working with ageing populations, this workshop supports you in refining the knowledge, judgement, and confidence needed to deliver safe, effective, and inclusive aquatic programs.

Why Attend Older Adults Update 2026?

This Older Adults Update features five modules offering new learnings and a fresh perspective of the frail to active ageing participant.

We'll build on the knowledge you gained in your initial aqua instructor training and keep you updated with research, evidence-based programs, equipment, motivation and the changing landscape of the diverse participant.

Through lectures, classroom learning, and in-water sessions, you’ll gain practical ideas to apply immediately in your own setting.

You'll explore:

✔ Key considerations for common conditions, when to modify, and how to progress safely

✔ How the ageing body responds to the aquatic environment and surrounds

✔ Look at how the ageing body responds to water of different depth and temperature

✔ Communication strategies that support confidence and participant empowerment

✔ Supporting inclusion, social connection, and diverse abilities

✔ Adapting movement principles, exercises, and instruction for greater safety and success

✔ Principles of effective and efficient class design and delivery.

Older Adults Update Presenters & Sessions

See Me, Include Me: Delivering DEI-Informed in the Aqua for Older Adult

Most facilities already embed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) expectations within their policies and professional standards, but how do we translate these principles into meaningful action on pool deck?

Your older adult participants are not a single, homogeneous group. Behind every person in the water is a lifetime of identity: culture, fitness history, ability, gender, background, and lived experience that shapes how welcome and included they feel. The aquatic environment offers unique opportunities for people to feel more able and comfortable, with the quick rewards of visible improvement.

Through a thought-provoking lecture and hands-on water practical, you'll explore how small yet deliberate changes to your teaching language, class culture, participant positioning, and exercise selection can make a profound difference to the people who need aqua fitness most and that’s our ageing population.

Jess Adkins-Barber - Swim School Owner, Educator and Inclusion Leader.

Resistance, Reach, and Results: Getting the Most from Aquatic Equipment

Irene Pluim Mentz, Irene explores water principles through the use of resistance equipment to enhance movement for older adult participants. Discover how drag resistance tools can build strength, improve balance, and support joint-friendly movement patterns.

Drag resistance equipment designed for aquatic use provides multidirectional resistance that mimics functional movements. When used with increased speed, the resistance intensifies, allowing participants to self-regulate their workout intensity. This principle makes it particularly valuable for mixed-ability groups where individuals can work at their own pace within the same exercise.

Irene will demonstrate exercises, guide you through practical applications, and answer questions as you experience the equipment yourself. You'll have the opportunity to purchase Aqua-Ohm resistance bands at a special workshop price.

Irene Pluim Mentz - Physical Therapist, Aquatic Therapy Specialist and Inventor of Aqua-Ω

From Clinic to Class: Designing Safe, Effective Exercise for Older Adults

Older adults attending exercise classes often present with a wide range of health conditions, injuries, and functional limitations.

In this module you will explore how exercise professionals can confidently design safe, effective, and engaging programs by bridging the gap between clinical exercise physiology and group fitness.

Drawing on real-world experience, Stacey will break down what truly matters when working with older populations, including key considerations for common conditions, when to modify, and how to progress safely. Participants will gain practical strategies to improve strength, balance, mobility, and confidence in their clients, with clear application to both land- and water-based environments. This session will simplify the complex, helping instructors feel more confident working with diverse and higher-needs participants.

Stacey Aldous

More Than Movement: Motivation, Social Connection, and the Power of Belonging.

As instructors, we see aqua's real impact on social connection every day on pool deck. How fortunate to learn from an aqua instructor who completed Psychology Honours research on motivation and social connection in older adult aqua fitness.

Drawing on Amanda's research, gain evidence-based insights highlighting the meaningful role we play in supporting positive ageing and encouraging connection through every session. The research shows how enjoyment, affiliation, and belonging can be just as important as physical outcomes.

What can you do with this? From simple interaction cues to creating stronger community in your classes, this session shares practical ways to build connection, reduce isolation, and create an environment people want to return to.

Amanda Bos - Psychology graduate and aqua instructor exploring connection and positive ageing

Framing Aqua Delivery Techniques for Older Adult Classes

Whilst having a reliable class format provides security for both instructor and participants, don't be afraid to experiment within that framework. How you deliver your class content matters as much as what you deliver.

This module revisits different class formats and provides an opportunity to practice delivery techniques on land before hitting the water. We'll explore how to clearly define work and recovery periods, incorporate functionally-focused movements that mimic daily activities, and combine ideas from all instructors throughout the day.

The structure you choose should reflect your teaching strengths and your participants' needs, and you'll leave with practical strategies you can implement immediately.

JSP - Co-founder of Aqua Alliance | 40+ Years in Aquatic Education

Older Adults Update 2026 Workshop

$245

Standard Price

This pre-conference workshop is designed for aqua instructors, allied health professionals, and exercise professionals who want to strengthen their understanding of the ageing participant in water.

Physiological adaptations and key ageing considerations
Biomechanics and functional outcomes in water
Communication and participant empowerment
Inclusion, confidence, and diverse abilities
Exercise adaptation and equipment use
In-water learning and practical programming ideas

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Upgrade Your Experience Workshop + AquaSummit Pre Sale Bundle

$679

SUPER EARLY BIRD PRICE (EXPIRES 14 JUNE 2026)

Best Value

Save with this exclusive bundle!

Combine Older Adults Update 2026 with AquaSummit for a wider professional learning experience.

This bundle is for delegates who want focused training on the ageing participant in water, plus access to the wider ideas, education, and networking opportunities offered through AquaSummit.

Older Adults Update 2026 pre-conference workshop
AquaSummit conference access
Practical and theory-based learning across both events
A broader view of current ideas and teaching approaches in the aquatic industry