OUR TEAM
At NS Swim School, we take pride in our dedicated team of qualified swim instructors and squad coaches.
Each member undergoes ongoing training, including yearly CPR courses, workshops, and evaluations, ensuring they stay at the forefront of coaching techniques. All our staff hold a current Working with Children Check, prioritizing safety and professionalism.
Our diverse team includes male and female instructors of various ages, many of whom are local Northern Beaches parents and university students. It's heartening to see many of them grow from students at NS Swim School to passionate coaches, actively competing in races and enjoying swimming for fitness and leisure.
A number of our team members have been with Narelle since the school’s inception over 24 years ago, fostering a strong sense of community. With Narelle’s extensive experience of over 40 years in the industry, we’re proud to consider our swim school a family, committed to providing quality lessons and a supportive environment for all swimmers.
About Narelle Simpson
Narelle's journey in the Australian swim industry is truly inspiring. Growing up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, her lifelong connection to water led her to a remarkable career.
As an inductee into the Honour List of the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, she has made significant contributions to the sport.
In 2001, Narelle broke new ground as the first female coach in a major Australian swim team in an individual coaching role, guiding a swimmer from the age of 11 to Olympic and World Championships. Since 1997, she has placed athletes on prestigious teams, including Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship, Commonwealth Games, Pan-Pacs, and major World Cup teams.
Her swim school, originally Narelle Simpson Swim School, operated out of Manly’s Andrew Boy Charlton outdoor pool since winning a tender in 1994 until renovations at the Aquatic Centre. In 2015, the school rebranded to NS Swim School and relocated to a new indoor 18m pool in Brookvale, where all lessons are now held. Squads continue to train at the Manly Aquatic Centre, and since 2022, the school has also held coaching rights at Warringah Aquatic Centre. Narelle’s dedication to developing swimmers and her passion for the sport continue to shine through in everything NS Swim School does.
WAC COACHING TEAM
Angelo Basalo - Head Coach of the WAC is a celebrated figure in the world of swimming, boasting over 30 years of experience and an unparalleled reputation. As a Platinum Performance-accredited coach, his achievements are remarkable, including coaching over 20 Australian Champions and record holders. Under his leadership, his teams have won the NSW Open State Championships and placed 5th at the Australian Open Championships.
Nationally recognized since 1995, Angelo has consistently placed swimmers on NSW teams and has coached both able-bodied and multi-class athletes on Australian teams from 2000 to 2016. His prestigious coaching career includes serving as a team coach on 15 Australian touring teams, including the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic teams.
Among his accolades are the NSW Open Coach of the Year Award in 2010 and the Australian Paralympic Coach of the Year Award in 2015, cementing his legacy as a driving force in competitive swimming.
Angelo is joined by fellow coaches Frank Preston and Cameron Reynolds to coach all levels of squads at the WAC.
Brookvale Learn to Swim Teachers
