Who We are?
Strong, Inclusive, Volunteer Lead
Melbourne Vicentre Swimming Club (MVC) is a strong, inclusive, volunteer lead club. With a rich Olympic history, it is home to current Australian Dolphins Sam Williamson, Tara Kinder and Nick Sloman
Based at MSAC, home of Victorian swimming and host to Swimming Australia’s Victorian Olympic Performance Program, MVC was established in 1988 following the amalgamation of Melbourne Aquatic, ACI Vicentre and later Malvern swimming clubs.
In 2025, the MVC competitive squad training program was restructured to provide a seamless transition from the MSAC Learn to Swim, through the various squad levels to allow swimmers to develop at their own pace. New Head Coach, Richard Sleight and his coaching team are focused on establishing MVC as a premier performance centre for young and emerging competitive swimmers.
Meet Our Head Coach
Supporting Long Term Athlete Development
Richard Sleight was appointed Head Coach of MVC in April 2025. He comes to the club with extensive experience coaching at both National and International competitions, including Junior Pan Pacs, Youth Commonwealth and Oceania Games and Junior World Championships. Richard was awarded the Australian Age Group Coach of the Year for 2022/23. His most recent appointment was as Director of Aquatics/Head Coach at the Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane where he built a world class program at school and club level. MVC are thrilled to have Richard heading up our programs and supporting our athletes in achieving their goals.
MVC Coaching Team:
Tim
Bessie
Lewis
Meet Our Head Coach
Supporting Long Term Athlete Development
Richard Sleight was appointed Head Coach of MVC in April 2025. He comes to the club with extensive experience coaching at both National and International competitions, including Junior Pan Pacs, Youth Commonwealth and Oceania Games and Junior World Championships. Richard was awarded the Australian Age Group Coach of the Year for 2022/23. His most recent appointment was as Director of Aquatics/Head Coach at the Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane where he built a world class program at school and club level. MVC are thrilled to have Richard heading up our programs and supporting our athletes in achieving their goals.
MVC Coaching Team
Tim
Bessie
Lewis
Coaching Philosophy
Building Technique, Capability & Capacity
At MVC, our coaches believe it is important to ensure that technique, capability and capacity are built and developed in line with a swimmer’s individual and long term, athlete development model. To achieve this, swimmers will progress through three important phases:
Train to Train (Junior squads) – develop all strokes technically via Medley & Freestyle training, plus key skill acquisition eg underwater streamlining, starts & turns.
Train to Compete (State level) – continued stroke and skill work with the development of aerobic & anaerobic capacities. Educate swimmers on how to race through the implementation of race specific training sets. Aerobic capacity improved via Medley and Freestyle training. Swimmer’s best strokes targeted during specific main sets.
Train to Win – (National level) – although swimmers at this level are still developing certain components from the training to train & training to compete phases, the focus is now predominantly on training for high performance. Swimmers are committed to consistent training with the aim of peaking at State & Nationals. Goals include improving national rankings, making finals, and being selected on Australian Teams.
Training with MVC
Pathways to Performance
Through its partnership with MSAC, MVC enjoys access to two 50 meter pools, a comprehensive onsite strength and conditioning program, and other exercise spaces and performance programs hosted in and around MSAC.
The MSAC/MVC squad program provides performance pathways from MSAC’s Learn to Swim, through to national and international representation. Squads start at Development and then progress through, State Development, Bronze, Silver, Gold & High Performance.
After joining, swimmers will be placed into the squad aligned with their ability, where they will learn to train and compete in a positive and supportive environment.
Our club
Join a Vibrant and Committed Team
We are a club run solely by parents. As such, there is an expectation that families joining will volunteer to assist at various times and promote a friendly, diverse and inclusive culture.
MVC have an exclusive partnership for competitive squad swim training at MSAC. Except for High Performance and special programs, all swimmers will need to be a member of the Melbourne Vicentre Swimming Club. In addition to club membership, squad coaching fees are directly collected by MSAC. This membership will include 3 hours of free parking per day.
For more information about parent involvement email us at join@vicentre.org.au
Becoming an MVC/MSAC Member
MVC have an exclusive partnership for competitive squad swim training at MSAC. Except for High Performance and special programs, all swimmers will need to be a member of the Melbourne Vicentre Swimming Club.
In addition to club membership, squad coaching fees are directly collected by MSAC. This membership will include 3 hours of free parking per day.
For more information regarding memberships and fees, email us at join@vicentre.org.au
Ready to Give MVC a Go?
Requesting a Trial
Swimmers and families interested in joining MVC will need to complete the Request a Trial form (link), you will be contacted by one of the coaches to organise a mutually convenient day and time for the trial.
On the day of the trial please arrive 15 mins early to allow for introductions and briefing for the trial.
You will be contacted within the next few days with information regarding the most appropriate squad based on the trial results.
Instructions for MVC and MSAC membership will follow.
For more information on MVC or the trial process before completing form, email us at join@vicentre.org.au
Fill out the trial form, and we’ll contact you to confirm your trial day. After a successful trial, we’ll guide you through the joining process.
Our squads include Development, State Targeted, Fitness, State Age, and National Age. You’ll be placed based on your level.
A coach will send you trial details, including time, location, and what to bring. Please arrive 15 minutes early.
All swimmers must wear an MVC cap ($20). Club uniforms are available via Swimmerch.
We stay connected through a WhatsApp group, Parent Handbook, and club events.
Click below to start your trial with MVC.
Now, if everything above sounds good and you want to proceed with a trial, click below:
We proudly showcase our swimmers on our Facebook and Instagram posts. Joining the club agrees members with the following:
Have my swimmer’s name, image (photo/ video) and results published in official programs, newsletters and websites managed or controlled by the Club. Explicit permission may be withdrawn upon notification.
Contact telephone numbers and email addresses will be collected and used by the Club to facilitate communication between the Club and its members.
Do we ever have visiting swimmers who are interested in training with the squads? Yes we do. But you will need to either lead the way or keep up with our swimmers. Send us an email at info@vicentre.org.au
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