Inaugural Water Polo Australia Summit brings community together

Held on the Gold Coast from 1-2 October, the inaugural Water Polo Australia (WPA) Summit saw the water polo community come together following the 2024 15&U and 17&U National State Championships.

An invaluable opportunity for personal and professional development, particularly for coaches and referees from grassroots through to high performance, the event featured speakers such as Boris Margeta (World Aquatics), Olympic coaches Tim Hamill and Bec Rippon and Olympic Referees.

Amongst those who attended was Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks Assistant Coach Vedran Cirkovic, who noted the event was particularly worthwhile.

“I attended the recent Summit on the recommendation of my colleagues at Water Polo New South Wales and WPA. It was a great opportunity to connect with key figures in the water polo community, exchange ideas, and stay updated on the latest developments within the sport,” said Cirkovic.

“The Summit exceeded my expectations - it was both educational and enjoyable and the sessions provided valuable insights into various aspects of water polo, both domestically and internationally.

“My favorite part of the event was Boris Margeta’s session. It was very interesting to hear his suggestions, advice and insights on how water polo operates internationally. 

“Additionally, the interview that Bec [Rippon] and Tim [Hamill] conducted was fascinating, offering real-world examples of challenges in international water polo and where we stand on a global scale, but also positive feedback on Olympic results that both men’s and women’s teams achieved,” he said.

Already hoping to attend again next year, Cirkovic said he would definitely recommend future WPA Summit events to others.

“The blend of networking, learning, and discussions provides immense value to anyone involved in water polo, including athletes, referees, coaches, and administrators. 

“I attended breakout sessions with Bec and Tim and they were very creative, informative and beneficial, regardless of the level you’re coaching at.

“It was great to see the strong sense of community at the Summit and it would be wonderful if more people attended next year. The event highlighted the shared passion people have for growing water polo in Australia, and it would be beneficial for more people to get involved in events like this,” he said.