With the support of the Sporting Schools team at the Australian Sports Commission, Water Polo Australia has increased the offering of Water Polo to include Secondary School students from Term 4, 2026.
In Water Polo, the Flippaball program has previously been available to primary schools around Australia (both on land and in water) through Sporting Schools, but the challenge was to build an additional water polo program for secondary school students around Australia that included more game play for Year 7s and Year 8s, whilst also catering for those that are new to the sport of water polo.
Water polo is a sport that has a strong membership in the youth age bracket, especially in Year 7 and 8s, and the Learn 2 Polo program was created for these year levels, with an emphasis on making the sport available to more people.
In Term 2, Firbank Grammar in Melbourne ran a pilot of the new Learn 2 Polo program. With the help of coaches from Water Polo Victoria and the Victorian Phoenix Team which included three-time Olympian, Rowie Webster, students enjoyed trying a different sport offering, and a different sport that you can play in the water (or land).
The program introduces the fundamentals of water polo in an engaging, confidence‑building environment. Learn 2 Polo activities are adapted to student ability, equipment availability, and school context, ensuring every session is inclusive, active, skill‑focused and most of all is fun!
It’s a flexible way to help students discover a new sport, build water confidence, and continue on their aquatic journey. The Learn 2 Polo program in Sporting Schools will shortly be complimented by an introduction to Water Polo offering adapted to suit Aquatic Centres.
The team at Water Polo Australia is excited to offer this program to all secondary schools around Australia from Term 4, especially after the success of the 2026 Water Polo World Cup in Sydney at Sydney Olympic Park where our Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers (Women) won bronze and Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks (Men) finished 4th after competing against the top eight teams in the world.
Teachers are encouraged to apply for funding through their school and select Water Polo for Term 4, funding applications close on Friday August 21 at 5pm.
For more information on the Water Polo Programs offered through Sporting Schools, or to get Water Polo happening at your school, please visit Water polo | ASC or email info@waterpoloaustralia.com.au
