IRLearning rebrands to becomes SPASA Training

SPASA’s industry training division, the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) which since 2009 has been known as the Institute of Research and Learning (IRLearning), has reverted to full SPASA branding and is now operating as SPASA Training.

Executive manager Rachel Bambry says the return to the SPASA brand creates a clearer connection between the industry’s peak association and the education and professional development they provide to the industry.

“As the swimming pool and spa industry changes, the way we develop the workforce must also change with it,” she says.

“Across Australia, businesses are looking for skilled people, experienced workers are seeking recognition for what they already know, and employers increasingly want training that is practical, flexible and directly relevant to their operations.”

Bambry says SPASA Training is firmly focussed on meeting those needs.

The change comes at a time of considerable growth and activity in training body, with new professional development programs, industry partnerships and qualification reviews underway, along with expanding the brand’s footprint in Australia and New Zealand.

Earlier this year, the RTO now known as SPASA Training achieved renewal of registration for a further seven years, providing a strong foundation to continue building its accredited training offering.

“As an RTO, SPASA Training delivers nationally recognised qualifications across swimming pool and spa service, pool and spa building, landscape construction, retail, leadership and management. Our range of specialist and professional development programs is also constantly growing,” says Brambry.

Professional development beyond qualifications

However, Bambry says the focus is not simply on delivering qualifications.

“Different people enter training with very different levels of experience,” she says. “Someone new to the industry may need structured learning and assessment, while an experienced technician or business owner may already hold substantial skills that can be recognised through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).”

She says that providing different pathways allows training to better reflect the people they serve across the pool and spa industry.

“This approach is also extending to businesses, with SPASA Training increasingly working directly with employers to develop training solutions for their teams. These can include group enrolments, RPL programs, targeted skills development and programs tailored around particular business needs.”

While formal qualifications are essential to building the professionalism of the pool and spa industry, they are only one part of workforce development. Shorter professional development opportunities give people the chance to build knowledge in specific areas without necessarily enrolling in a full qualification.

This year has seen continued delivery across areas including water chemistry, hydraulics, aquatic technical operations, pool safety inspection training and other specialist industry topics.

One of the newest additions is the Four Pillars of Pool Care, a four-part series designed to strengthen knowledge across some of the fundamental areas of pool care.

Online learning is also continuing to expand, including specialist content in areas such as spa diagnostics, creating additional opportunities for people to build skills at a time and pace that suits their work.

“Over time, the goal is to create learning pathways throughout a person’s career, whether they are entering the industry, developing technical capability, moving into leadership or looking to deepen their knowledge in a specialist area.”

Extending the reach into New Zealand

Another major development in 2026 has been the expansion of training into New Zealand.

SPASA Training has received approval to deliver the Certificate III in Swimming Pool and Spa Service online to students based in New Zealand, opening an Australian industry qualification pathway to a new group of learners.

SPASA is also working with Vertical Horizons in New Zealand as part of its broader partnership focused on new qualifications in New Zealand that will build its industry reach.

While the Australian qualification operates separately from the New Zealand qualifications framework, the expansion creates an opportunity to share technical knowledge, strengthen industry capability and build closer connections between the Australian and New Zealand sectors.

Helping shape the qualifications of tomorrow

Bambry says that an equally important part of SPASA Training’s work happens away from the classroom.

“Industry qualifications need to keep pace with changing technology, products, work practices, regulation and employer expectations. The Certificate III in Swimming Pool and Spa Service and other relevant qualifications are currently being reviewed through BuildSkills Australia, with SPASA represented directly in the technical committee process.

“Having industry at the table during these reviews is critical. Qualifications should accurately reflect the work being performed in the field and provide meaningful outcomes for both students and employers.”

SPASA also continues to advocate for greater recognition and government funding for the industry-specific qualifications that now exist.

In some jurisdictions, swimming pool and spa businesses continue to face situations where broader or less industry-specific qualifications attract government funding while specialist pool and spa qualifications do not. Addressing those inconsistencies remains an important part of SPASA’s advocacy to promote a skilled and sustainable workforce.

What comes next

Bambry says the next phase for SPASA Training will be about continuing to broaden access to training while strengthening the connection between education, employers and industry.

“That includes expanding professional development, creating further online learning, working with more businesses on workforce solutions, strengthening training opportunities in New Zealand and continuing to represent industry during qualification reform,” she says.

It also means making training easier to navigate.

“Whether someone is looking to enter the industry, gain a qualification, formalise years of experience, develop a team or simply improve their knowledge in a particular area, there should be a clear pathway available to them.”

In 2025, hundreds of people participated in training and professional development through SPASA Training under its previous name, in nationally recognised qualifications, workshops, e-learning and other industry-focused programs.

“Those numbers tell part of the story, but the broader measure is the impact those skills have when they return to the workplace,” she says.

“For SPASA, investing in training is ultimately an investment in the capability, professionalism and future of the swimming pool and spa industry.”

IMAGE: The new SPASA Training logo (supplied, SPASA)