November and December 2025 Newsletter
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November and December 2025 Newsletter

Holiday Operating Hours

As we approach the festive season, we want to inform you of our reduced operating hours over Christmas and New Year. Our normal hours are from 5:30 am to 10 pm, but the schedule for the holiday period will be as follows:

  • December 22, 23: Normal hours (5:30 am - 10 pm)
  • Wednesday, December 24: 9 am - 1 pm
  • December 25, 26, 27: Closed
  • December 28, 29, 30: 9 am - 1 pm
  • December 31, January 1: Closed
  • Friday, January 2: Regular hours resume (5:30 am - 10 pm)

We wish you a joyful holiday season and thank you for your understanding. We look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Programs End of Year Reminder

A reminder for all participants enrolled in Learn to Swim, Gymnastics, and Squads: the final day of the current term will be Sunday December 21st

Also a reminder that classes marked absent in November and December will expire 30 days after the class marked absent, rather than at the end of the year.

Make sure to use your eligible replacement sessions before they expire.

We appreciate your participation this year. Programs will resume on Monday January 19th, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the new year.

Early Closure Friday 5th December 2025

On Friday December 5, MUSAC will close early for our annual staff end of year celebration.

  • No new entries will be allowed after 6pm
  • Health Club and Halls will be closing at 6:45pm
  • Pools will close at 6:45pm
  • Programs will run as normal until 7pm
  • Centre will close at 7pm

Normal operations will resume at 6am on Saturday 6th December.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we recognise our wonderful staff.  Thank you for being part of the MUSAC community.

Quarter 3 Member Draw Winners

Congratulations to our Q3 Member Draw winners; Debbie, Nikki and Vishal who each took home a Hamper from the Hamper Emporium to share with their friends and family or simply just indulge themselves. Thanks for being part of the MUSAC community.

Our Q4 draw is already underway — all you need is 12 visits this quarter (October, November and December) to automatically be in the running. Keep showing up, keep moving, and you could be our next winner!

Pool Closures: 10–12 November

A reminder that all pools will be closed from Monday 10 to Wednesday 12 November for essential maintenance.

During this time, there will be no Learn to Swim or Squads classes, and Aquatic members will not have access to the centre.

Normal operations will resume on Thursday 13 November. Thank you for your understanding while this important work is completed.

Share the Motivation This Season

We’re getting into the festive spirit with a special Refer a Friend offer running from 1 December to 18 January.

When you refer a friend who signs up and completes two direct debit payments, you’ll both receive two weeks free.

It’s the perfect time to stay active together over summer and share everything MUSAC has to offer. Whether it’s training together, joining a class, or swimming a few laps, everything’s better with a workout buddy.

Bring a friend, share the fun, and start the new year feeling strong.

2025 ARI NSW Awards of Excellence

The ARI NSW Awards of Excellence celebrate the people and facilities leading the way across the health, fitness, and aquatic industry, and this year, Macquarie University Sport & Aquatic Centre (MUSAC) had plenty to celebrate.

The MUSAC Swim School was once again recognised as the Swim School of the Year, earning the title for the second consecutive year (2024 and 2025). This back-to-back achievement highlights the team’s ongoing commitment to providing outstanding teaching, safety, and swimmer development within a supportive and fun learning environment.

MUSAC also proudly took home another major award, with several team members recognised as finalists across key categories.

Duty Manager Jonas Williams was named Duty Manager of the Year, recognised for his exceptional leadership, operational excellence, and unwavering support across all areas of the centre.

Lifeguard Matt Geddes was a finalist for Lifeguard of the Year, recognised for his professionalism, vigilance, and strong commitment to aquatic safety, and Bruno Toppini was celebrated as a finalist for the Award of Excellence, which honours individuals who’ve made a lasting impact on the industry through leadership and innovation.

MUSAC itself was also named a finalist for Facility of the Year, acknowledging the centre’s exceptional programs, customer service, and community engagement.

These achievements highlight the teamwork, passion, and dedication that define MUSAC. Congratulations to all finalists, and a special shout-out to Jonas Williams and the Swim School team for their incredible wins at this year’s awards.

School Holiday Programs

Bookings for our 2026 Summer School Holiday Programs go live on Monday 1st December.

With limited spaces in our school holiday programs, book in early to avoid missing out.

Both Learn to Swim and Gymnastics Holiday Programs will be running from January 5th-9th and January 12th-16th!

For more information, visit our School holiday programs page.

End of Year Members BBQ

We’re firing up the grill again for our End of Year Members BBQ on Wednesday 12 November in the Health Club Courtyard, kicking off from 4:00pm and running until the sausages run out.

Come along to celebrate another great year at MUSAC with good food, great company, and a live DJ setting the vibe for the afternoon. It’s our way of saying thank you for being part of the community and finishing the year strong together.

Parking Reminder for CellOPark Users

If you use the CellOPark app for your free member parking, please remember to check that your number plate is still active and correctly linked to your account.

Parking registrations in the app need to be renewed periodically, and we’re seeing a higher number of expiries at the moment. If your number plate is no longer valid, you may not receive free parking

This does not affect anyone who uses the parking meters directly.

To renew or update your number plate, simply visit the front desk and our team will be happy to help.

Reformer Pilates at MUSAC

Looking to build strength, improve posture, and enhance flexibility? Reformer Pilates is available right here at MUSAC, with classes suited to beginners through to advanced participants.

It’s a great way to challenge your body, improve control, and add variety to your training routine — all in a supportive, small-group environment.

For more information including the Reformer Pilates Timetable, visit the Reformer Pilates page on our website.

Active Kids Vouchers

Many Active Kids vouchers are due to expire on 31 December this year, though not all. Please check your voucher’s expiry date to ensure it is still valid.

To guarantee your voucher is processed before the end of the year, email it to macsport@mq.edu.au by Thursday 19 December.

Any vouchers sent after this date cannot be guaranteed for processing before their expiry.

Health Club Towel Policy Reminder

A quick reminder to bring and use a towel in the Health Club, including on all equipment and mats. This helps keep the space clean and comfortable for everyone.

Thank you to all members for sticking to the policy and for supporting our Health Club team, who do a great job reminding people each day. If you forget your towel, please see reception for options.

Registrations for the 2026 Summer Competitions Open Soon

Registrations open Monday 17 November, so start getting your team together or sign up as an individual and we’ll help place you in a team. Enjoy the longer evenings with a season of fun, fitness, and friendly competition.

Spots always fill quickly, so get in early to avoid missing out

Competitions include:

  • Monday Night Mixed Netball
  • Tuesday Night Mixed Netball
  • Tuesday Night Mixed Touch Football
  • Wednesday Night Mixed Netball
  • Wednesday Night Mixed 6-a-Side Football
  • Wednesday Night Mixed Volleyball
  • Friday Night Mixed Basketball

For more information or to secure your place, visit the Social Sport page .

Macquarie Ace Visits the AIS

Earlier this month, Kye McDermott joined Swimming NSW’s 2025 Boys Shark Squad at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) for a week of high-performance training, learning, and growth.

The camp brought together some of the state’s most promising male swimmers, all focused on refining their technique, sharpening racing skills, and building the mindset needed for long-term success, with an eye on the road to Brisbane 2032.

Led by Alex Clarke and Greg Salter, the week ran from Monday 6 to Thursday 9 October and was packed from start to finish. Each morning began with activation and focus sessions before moving into intense pool work. Athletes also analysed footage from the 2024 Olympic Games and 2025 World Championships, studying how the world’s best swimmers move through the water and perform under pressure.

Between sessions, recovery was a key focus, with hot and cold plunges, stretching, and mobility work helping swimmers manage the heavy training load. Outside the pool, the team enjoyed basketball games, trivia nights, and challenges that strengthened bonds and kept spirits high.

The camp wrapped up with a final pool session where swimmers put their new skills into practice and received detailed feedback from coaches to guide their continued development.

The Shark Squad camp was an incredible experience for Kye, offering valuable insights, motivation, and a deeper understanding of what it takes to perform at a high level — both as a swimmer and as a teammate. We’re proud to see Kye representing Macquarie University SC at such a high level and continuing to develop as part of the next generation of elite swimmers.

Gymnastics Roof Upgrade Project Underway

Works on the Gymnastics roof upgrade are now underway and progressing well. The adjusted program has been running smoothly, and we’d like to thank all members and families for their assistance and patience as we work through this project.

A big thank you also to our Gymnastics team for their incredible effort in keeping everything running so seamlessly during the works.

If you have any questions or experience any issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Gymnastics team directly at gymanstics@mq.edu.au

Reduced Group Fitness Timetable

Please be aware that our Group Fitness Timetable will be reduced from December until the new year. We encourage all members to refer to the Group Fitness Timetable for the latest class schedules and updates.

Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to seeing you in class.

Learn to Swim: Give Back Campaign Coming Soon

In honour of winning ARI Swim School of the year two years in a row, a special offer for Learn to Swim families is on the way this summer. Running for a limited time between November and January, it’s a great chance to share the benefits of swimming with friends and family.

Full details will be emailed directly to Learn to Swim families soon, so keep an eye on your inbox for how to get involved.

Semester 2 Social Sport Competition Winners

A huge congratulations to our Semester 2 competition winners — an awesome finish to the season!

Netball:

  • Monday – The Windividuals
  • Tuesday – HotShots
  • Wednesday – Stroll Run Club

Soccer:

  • Wednesday A Grade – DLC Red
  • Wednesday B Grade – Caramel Slices

Volleyball

  • Wednesday A Grade – Campus Lifers
  • Wednesday B Grade – Ball Fondlers

Basketball

  • Friday – 360 Jump Street

Well done to everyone who played across the semester. The Daylight Savings competitions are now underway, so good luck to all teams competing.

Swimming and Low Back Pain

A new Macquarie University study, led by Deborah Wareham and conducted here at MUSAC, explored how different swimming strokes affect pain in people with chronic low back pain.

Researchers found that backstroke was generally the least painful stroke, followed by freestyle, while breaststroke tended to produce slightly higher pain levels. Although the differences were small, they could be meaningful for people managing long-term back pain.

The findings highlight how stroke choice might influence comfort and adherence in aquatic exercise programs.

To view more about this study, click here

To view the full study, click here

Success for Matt at Australian Short Course Championships

Big applause for Matthew Swinbourne on winning two bronze medals at the Australian Short Course Championships in Melbourne October 1-3. Matt made the finals on all three nights in 4 events and won bronze in the 50 butterfly and 50 Breastroke. Matt is now preparing for the NSW Senior State Age Championships in December. Congratulations Matt on representing Macquarie University SC with distinction at major Swimming Australia events.

Christmas Colouring-In Competition

Get into the Christmas spirit with our annual MUSAC Colouring-In Competition!

Open to all Learn to Swim and Squad participants, this year’s competition has three age categories with great prizes up for grabs.

You can pick up your colouring sheet at the 25 m pool or check your emails to download a copy. Once your masterpiece is complete, return it to reception by Sunday 30 November.

Winners will be announced on Wednesday 3 December — we can’t wait to see the walls covered in colour again this year!

Become a Swim Instructor 

Are you interested in Becoming a Swim Instructor? If you’ve ever thought about teaching others to swim, here’s your chance to get started. Whether you’ve just finished school, are studying at uni, looking for a new direction, or simply love being in the water, this course is a great way to begin your journey.

Swim Teacher Course

  • Location: Macquarie University Sport and Aquatic Centre
  • Date: Saturday 10 January 2026
  • Time: 8:00am to 5:00pm

Run by the ASCTA team right here at MUSAC, you’ll gain the skills and qualifications needed to become a certified swim teacher, and our Swim School team will help you complete your practical training hours

For more information and to enrol in the course, please visit  the ASCTA website

Pickleball at MUSAC

Did you know Pickleball is available here at Macquarie University Sport and Aquatic Centre? It’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, blending the best parts of tennis, badminton, and table tennis into one fun, social game.

While it’s been available for a little while now, we’d love to see more members giving it a go. Pickleball is easy to learn, great for all skill levels, and perfect for a casual hit with friends or a quick cardio session that doesn’t feel like a workout.

Sessions are included in all Gold memberships, so if you’ve been curious, now’s the time to jump on court and see why it’s becoming so popular. Equipment is available, and our team can help get you started.

New Coaches Big Impact 

New performance coaches Joshua Wooldridge and Tom Rayner have had an immediate effect on the Macquarie University Swim Program. Macquarie University won the overall point score in the small teams section of the Metro North West Winter Championships at Olympic Park. Congratulations to our hard-working swimmers on winning the trophy and let's keep the momentum going and prepare meticulously for NSW Senior State Age Championships in December.

Pride in Sport Survey

We’re proud to be part of a community that values inclusion and respect for all. As a Platinum Member of Pride in Sport Australia, Macquarie University Sport is committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, including members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Our General Manager, Bruno Toppini, shares:

“We want to ensure our centre is a safe and inclusive space for everyone, and that includes members of the LGBTQ+ community.”

To help us continue improving, we invite you to complete the Pride in Sport Survey. Your feedback is anonymous and will assist us in enhancing inclusivity here at Macquarie, while also contributing to better practices across the sport and recreation industry in Australia.

Complete the survey here (Survey closes 5pm December 15 2025)

As always, if you have any feedback for us, we would love to receive it – the good, the bad and the ugly.

If you have a submission you’d like to make about how we can improve our facility or our services, feel free to share via the online feedback form.

And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates.

Yours in health and fitness,

Macquarie University Sport and Aquatic Centre Team

Macquarie University acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land where Macquarie University is situated, the Wallumattagal Clan of the Dharug Nation – whose cultures and customs have nurtured, and continue to nurture, the land since time immemorial.