What Carlile Swimming does

Carlile Swimming, operating as Carlile Swim, is an Australian learn-to-swim school founded in 1946 by Forbes and Ursula Carlile — Australia's first Olympic swimming coach and the first woman to coach the Australian Olympic team, respectively. The company operates 32 purpose-built indoor heated swim schools across New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory, teaching more than 60,000 children each week through a 12-level progressive curriculum spanning infant/baby (3 months+) through competitive squad swimming. Core physical infrastructure includes custom-depth teaching pools heated to 32°C with state-of-the-art filtration, while intellectual property centres on the proprietary Carlile Teaching Program (developed with Olympic gold medallists and world-class coaches) and the Carlile Teacher Training System (30+ hours of in-house training plus Austswim certification).

The business model is predominantly direct-to-consumer and subscription-recurring: weekly lessons are billed monthly via direct debit with no lock-in contracts and 7-day cancellation notice. Group lesson pricing ranges from $28.50 to $34.45 depending on program and day; private one-on-one lessons command a $80-$88 premium per session. Revenue diversification extends to competitive squads, school holiday intensives, NDIS-funded disability and autism swimming, Rainbow Club partnerships, school institutional programs, aqua aerobics, hydrotherapy, lap swimming, water polo, and pool hire. Distribution is exclusively through company-owned facilities (no franchise model) with a uniform customer acquisition motion across website, online booking, level-finder quizzes, and local school partnerships.

Carlile Swimming was acquired by Soul Patts (a fifth-generation ASX-listed company) in 2023 alongside Kirby Swim, following Soul Patts' 2018 acquisition of Aquatic Achievers; the combined group was unified under the Carlile Swim brand in 2025 through a group-wide rebrand. The 80-year heritage has produced 9 world record holders, 50+ Australian representatives, and 250+ Australian Open Championship gold medals, positioning the brand as Australia's most successful competitive swim school and an institutional pillar of Australian swimming governance via Swimming Australia recognition and Austswim certification partnerships.

Name

Carlile Swimming

Legal name

Carlile Swimming

Website

https://carlile.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Carlile Swim operates 32 purpose-built indoor learn-to-swim schools across Australia, teaching more than 60,000 children weekly through a 12-level progressive curriculum developed by Olympic coaches, from infant water confidence through competitive squad swimming, owned by Soul Patts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Swim School Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding) (EDALAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aquatic Centers & Swimming Facilities (MPAKAEAF)

Keywords

• Swim school services
• Learn to swim
• Swimming lessons
• Competitive swim squads
• Aquatic education

Headquarters

HQ city

Lane Cove

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices32 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Swimming Lessons - Group Programs: Weekly recurring lessons paid monthly via direct debit. Fees vary by program type (baby, toddler, kids, stroke development) and day (weekday vs weekend). No lock-in contracts; cancellation with 7 days email notice.
2. Private Swimming Lessons: One-on-one personalized coaching sessions at premium pricing ($85-$88 per lesson). Targeted at beginners, nervous swimmers, or those refining technique.
3. Swimming Squads: Competitive swimming programs for swimmers progressing beyond basics, focusing on technique, strength, endurance and racing preparation.
4. School Holiday Intensive Programs: Intensive week-long swimming programs offered during school holidays at reduced fee compared to regular lessons. Designed for swimmers on cusp of level advancement.
5. NDIS and Disability Services: Specialized swimming lessons for participants with disabilities through NDIS funding, including autism swimming lessons and Rainbow Club partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Carlile Swimming operates 32 purpose-built indoor swim schools across Australia delivering a structured, progressive learn-to-swim program spanning babies (3 months) through adults, with pathway into competitive squads. Services include group lessons (baby, toddler, kids, stroke development, adult), private 1:1 coaching, squad training, school holiday intensives, school programs, NDIS and disability lessons, aqua aerobics, hydrotherapy and pool hire. The program is taught in warm 32–34°C purpose-built pools by instructors trained in a 30+ hour proprietary system, with monthly direct-debit billing and no lock-in contracts.

Product overview

Carlile Swim is a learn-to-swim service provider operating 32 swim schools across NSW, QLD, WA, VIC, and ACT in Australia. The core offering is a structured, progressive swimming program developed by Olympians and world-class coaches, spanning from infant/baby lessons (3 months+) through adult lessons, with progression pathways to competitive squad swimming. The portfolio includes core learn-to-swim products (Infant & Baby, Toddler, Kids, Stroke Development, Adult lessons), private one-on-one coaching, Squad Swimming for competitive development, and specialty programs including School Holiday intensives, School Swimming Programs for institutional clients, Disability/Autism/NDIS Swimming Lessons, Aqua Aerobics, Hydrotherapy, and Pool Hire. The company also partners with Rainbow Club for inclusive disability swimming. The 2025 rebrand of Aquatic Achievers unified all locations under the Carlile Swim brand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carlile Foundation: Established in 2004 to provide financial and professional assistance to help develop and support elite competitors. The foundation supports the Carlile Swimming Team's high-performance competitive swimming program.

Products and services

• Infant & Baby Swimming Lessons Structured swimming lessons for babies aged 3 months to 1 year taught in warm 32–34°C pools with parent participation, covering water confidence, breath control, floating, turning back to touch, and water safety skills.
• Toddler Swimming Lessons Swimming lessons for children aged 1–3 years focusing on kicking, strokes, breathing, and water safety techniques in small classes with flexible pacing to suit individual needs.
• Kids Swimming Lessons Learn-to-swim program for children aged 3–6 years built on 8 progressive levels focusing on stroke technique foundations, confidence, water safety, and building endurance across multiple strokes.
• Stroke Development Lessons Lessons for swimmers aged 7+ who have progressed beyond basics, refining technique for efficiency, speed and endurance and preparing swimmers for squads or competitive swimming.
• Adult Swimming Lessons Personalised swimming lessons for adults aged 18+ catering to beginners and experienced swimmers, focused on overcoming fear of water, refining technique, or building endurance for fitness or competition.
• Private Swimming Lessons One-on-one personalised coaching at premium pricing ($80–$88 per lesson), tailored for beginners, nervous swimmers, or those refining technique with focused attention and individual feedback.
• Squad Swimming Competitive swimming program with expert coaching and structured sessions developing technique, fitness, and racing skills in a team environment, with a pathway from development to competitive squads.
• School Holiday Swimming Programs Intensive week-long swimming tuition during school holidays at reduced fees compared to regular lessons, with daily sessions focused on technique, skills, and strength for rapid skill improvement.
• School Swimming Programs Structured swimming programs for schools delivering fundamental water safety and essential swimming skills, either hosted at Carlile facilities or delivered with qualified instructors at school pools.
• Disability Swimming Lessons Tailored swimming lessons for children with disabilities, delivered with adapted techniques in a supportive, inclusive environment to teach vital water safety skills.
• NDIS Swimming Lessons Swimming lessons available under Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme, providing access to water safety education for eligible participants funded through NDIS packages.
• Aqua Aerobics Water-based fitness classes combining aerobic exercise with the resistance of water, offered across weekday schedules at select locations.
• Hydrotherapy Therapeutic water-based sessions for rehabilitation and healing, utilising the therapeutic properties of warm water.
• Pool Hire Facility rental service allowing groups or individuals to book Carlile pools for private use.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250+ Australian Open Championship gold medals produced by Carlile coaches
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rainbow ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarlile Swim partners with Rainbow Club to make swimming accessible for children with disabilities. Provides tailored lessons ensuring children learn vital water safety skills in a supportive, inclusive environment. Expert teachers adapt techniques to meet individual needs, helping every child feel safe, confident and empowered in the water.
• The Carlile FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2004 by Forbes and Ursula Carlile to provide financial and professional assistance to develop and support elite competitors. Has donated millions of dollars to support competitive swimming in Australia. Enables Carlile Swim Team to employ world-class coaches such as Chris Nesbit (28 swimmers on Olympic teams).
• AustswimminorOthersAll Carlile Swim instructors are certified by Austswim, one of Australia's leading industry partners for swimming instructor certification. Instructors complete comprehensive training courses and regularly undergo refresher courses and recertification.
• Swimming AustraliaminorOthersForbes and Ursula Carlile are Life members of Swimming Australia. The Carlile Foundation operates in support of competitive swimming programs sanctioned by Swimming Australia.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• British Swim School: US franchised swim school chain with a methodology aligned to child-skill levels and small-class lessons. Functions as a comparable franchise-driven learn-to-swim brand serving similar families.
• Kingswim: Multi-location Australian swim school chain offering baby, toddler and kids lessons with stroke development and squad pathways. Closely comparable to Carlile in service mix, age cohorts and metro coverage.
• SafeSplash Swim School: US franchised learn-to-swim chain providing year-round indoor lessons with structured curriculum for infants through adults. Closely comparable to Carlile on age band, level system and franchise-driven geographic expansion.
• Aquabliss Swim School: Australian indoor learn-to-swim operator with multiple sites, structured levels and parent-focused classes. Comparable to Carlile in customer base and lesson-based recurring revenue model.
• JUMP! Swim Schools: One of Australia's largest swim-school franchisors, operating dozens of locations across multiple states with a learn-to-swim curriculum for babies through adults. Highly comparable to Carlile in target market, customer base and instructional product.
• Goldfish Swim School: North America's largest franchised learn-to-swim chain (jumbo-shark themed lessons for ages 4 months+). Comparable franchise-style learn-to-swim operator with progressive curriculum and lesson-based recurring revenue.

Emerging players

• Swim Smooth: Coach-training specialist offering learn-to-swim, open-water and squad methodology licensing to swim schools globally. Comparable as an adjacent emerging player shaping how modern swim schools teach technique and progression.

Others

• Swim Australia: National swimming-industry body and governing federation. Relevant as the ecosystem authority that sets standards and references for swim schools like Carlile, though not a commercial competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Belgravia Leisure: Australian leisure facility operator managing aquatic centres, swim schools and recreation venues on behalf of councils. Comparable incumbent in the indoor learn-to-swim and aquatic centre space, though mostly via facility management rather than owned curriculum.
• YMCA Australia (swim programs): Large established Australian not-for-profit operating aquatic and learn-to-swim programs as part of a broader community services portfolio. Comparable as a broad incumbent in kids swim instruction but not specialised to Carlile's curriculum depth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/carlileswimteam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carlile Swimming