We are pleased to announce the
6th International ABA Conference in Mondsee from April 4th until April 6th 2025 - the possibility for your professional development for everyone who works with babies and toddlers in the water - for more mindfulness, safety and fun for all water babies!
We translate all presentations in english and german!
The conference will take place at ****Schlosshotel Mondsee, just a few minutes' per foot from Lake Mondsee. Crystal-clear water, imposing peaks and romantic landscapes adorn the marvellous Mondsee region in the Salzkammergut. The Schlosshotel itself offers Austrian cosiness with historical flair, extremely comfortable rooms and first-class cuisine.
We have selected a wide variety of speakers and are sure that the topics will enrich everyone's work with babies and children.
Our supporting programme on Friday evening includes a trip to a typical Austrian inn, the Mostschenke Hussenbauer. On Saturday, we invite all participants to a gala dinner at the Schlosshotel Mondsee for a cosy get-together and to get to know each other. Accompanying persons are welcome to attend for a small fee.
The location is very close to the city of Salzburg, so you can easily plan a visit there before or after the conference.
Exhibitors will also have the opportunity to offer their prdoucts and put them up for sale.
The exact programme will be announced on our website www.austrianbabyswim.at.
We look forward to your registration!
We will start the conference on April 4th 2025 at 3.30pm. Registration will be possible from 2 until 3.30pm.
We will start the conference on April 4th 2025 at 3.30pm. Registration will be possible from 1.30 until 3.30pm.
Before dinner on Saturday, there will be an opportunity to get to know the town of Mondsee.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, speakers from different countries will give presentations. Each lecture will last 45 minutes plus 15 minutes for questions afterwards. The presentations will be translated into German or English.
We look forward to a lively exchange of experiences during the breaks, at the "Austrian" evening on Friday and at the gala dinner on Saturday with musical accompaniment. On Sunday we will close the conference at 1pm.
If you would like to visit one of our swimming schools the days before or after the conference, please feel free to ask!
For your registration for the ABA-Conference on April 4- 6th 2025 in Mondsee, please send an email to renate@austrianbabyswim.at. Registration deadline is March 5th 2025.
On receipt of your registration, you will be sent a booking confirmation. Due to the limited number of possible participants, please consider that the registration will be on a first come first served basis in the order that deposits are paid.
The cancellation for the participation will be charged with EUR 50,- until March 1st, 2025. After this date the full amount of the fee will be retained except the participant designates a replacement participant.
For your REGISTRATION we need the following DATA
Invoice recipient
Address, city code, city, state
Email-address
Sightseeing tour yes/no
Special needs for food like vegetarian, vegan, allergies…
CONFERENCE FEE
Early bird Conference fee before October 31st, 2024
615€
Conference fee from November 1st, 2024
685€
(Included are seminar drinks and coffee breaks, Fri dinner, Sat and Sun lunch, aperitif and gala dinner on Saturday evening. Drinks at lunch are not included. Water is included the whole dinner on Friday and Saturday as well as beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks until 10pm)
CONFERENCE HOTEL
****Schlosshotel Mondsee
Schlosshof 1a
5310 Mondsee
T: +43 6232 5001
F: +43 6232 5001-22
info@schlossmondsee.at
https://www.schlossmondsee.at
ACCOMMODATION
For the booking of the accommodation at the Schlosshotel Mondsee please let them know that you belong to the conference. There are several other possibilities around the location. Feel free to choose another one.
PAYMENT DETAILS
Austrian Babyswim Association
IBAN AT29 2011 1288 2828 4600
BIC GIBAATWWXXX
ABA Conference 2025
Visit this attraction, which is right next to the hotel!
The successful American film musical The Sound of Music by director Robert Wise became a worldwide success and still enjoys unbroken popularity today.
Mondsee, a beautiful town with 6000 years of history and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located on the Mondsee in the Salzkammergut. In the heart of the town centre, right on the market square, is the Mondsee Basilica, where the wedding scene of Maria and Georg von Trapp was filmed.
Nowadays, the basilica is very famous and many couples get married in Mondsee.
You are probably already curious to know who our speakers at the conference are.
From our neighbouring country we are proud to present HUGO LAVALLE.
Are you already curious about our speakers for next year?
We start We start our series of introductions with Hugo Lavalle. Hugo is from Turin in Italy and fascinates with his great projects and extraordinary swimming lessons.
He was born in Buenos Aires (Argentina), where he grew up and studied sports (1984-1987). In 1989 he moved to Europe and now lives in Turin. In 1998 he founded Acquarella, a centre for baby and children's swimming. For ten years he has been working for FIN (Italian Aquatics Federation) as a consultant for baby swimming. In 2007, 2009 and 2011 he organised 3 major international baby swimming congresses in Italy. He has been invited to speak at international conferences: Austria (ABA conference), Czech Republic (Caipa conference), England (Birthlight conference), Argentina (Nadi conference), Brazil (X INATI conference), Russia (2019 Maraphon conference). He was didactic director for high-five centres in China for 3 years.
His presentation will deal with the topic "Children and young people Re-integration in educational/sport/social/inclusive activities after an oncological-cerebral disease, treatment and rehabilitation path".
At our ABA Conference you can meet DIMAS KELVIANTO, a dedicated swimming instructor from Indonesia.
He began his teaching journey in Singapore from 2011 to 2014 before co-founding Swimtime Aquatics Indonesia in 2017 with his wife. Their swim school focuses on providing lessons for babies as young as 6 months and learn-to-swim classes for children aged 5 and above. Dimas is passionate about instilling water confidence and swimming skills in a fun, happy, and safe environment for all his students.
To enhance his expertise, Dimas has obtained various swimming qualifications, including certifications from Swimming Australia, the Singapore Swimming Teachers Association, and a licensed coach program in Singapore. Committed to continuous learning, he has also completed specialized courses such as Birthlight and attended numerous seminars to stay updated with best practices. Recently, he completed online courses from Aqua Sensory, Autism Swim and Aqua Education. Dimas believes that in an ever-evolving environment, swimming coaches must adapt and learn to meet the diverse needs of children effectively.
In his presentation - 🐳Baby Swimming in Indonesian’s Perspective🐳 - he we will share some points related to baby swimming in Indonesia, starting from when it started in Indonesia, how people opened a baby swimming school, and what are the important factors when opening a baby swimming school, baby swimming classes, pools, and participants. This is followed by their ongoing research on Indonesian parents (Java and surroundings) about baby swimming.
One of our lectures will have the title:
Trauma Free Submersions - the psychology of submersion
JULIE KAMARA and ZARA PEASLAND are swimming instructors and tutors based in the UK and the co-founders of 'Aqua Education Academy.' - https://www.facebook.com/AquaEducationAcademy
As Reflex Integration, Birth Processing, and Movement Therapists, Julie and Zara’s focus is on raising awareness on how important the neonatal and early reflexes are in baby development; and how early swimming experiences that embrace these reflexes, positively impact brain, body, emotional and behavioural growth in children.
They both have a personal and professional interest in Special Educational Needs (SEN) swimming, and hold qualifications in teaching and tutoring aquatic courses for this modality.
Julie and Zara began their Swim Teaching training in 2006, a time when the common practice of submersion in the UK revolved around adult-led movements and a 'conditioning' techniques to manually guide babies underwater.
They soon noticed certain behaviours in babies during submersion activities, including anxiety, resistance and disassociation, prompting them to seek a new gentle approach to baby immersion.
Discussions had already begun in the UK regarding an alternative method for submersion, but there was a lack of a clear direction on how to advance the existing practices into a holistic, baby-led experience.
Simultaneously, Zara and Julie started their training in Reflex Integration and Birth [trauma] Processing, linking many of the baby body language cues to those manifesting in the pool during submersion games and activities.
Through research and hands-on experience, Julie and Zara collaborated to develop a solution for offering underwater experiences for children without any force or conditioning.
In this presentation, they will share insights on:
• How and why submersion became such a significant focus in baby swimming.
• The potential trauma 'adult-led' submersions can imprint.
• The crucial role of understanding neonatal reflexes and facial sensitivity when working with early years, especially with submersion.
• Sharing practical processes for facilitating natural, baby-led immersions.
Another special lecture awaits you at our conference.
Since 1962, Lenoarmi has been more than just a method. It is both a pedagogy and a philosophy, insights that have developed through experience, knowledge and an extensive and significant history. Over four generations, thousands of families have contributed to making Lenoarmi what it is today.
NOEMÍ SURIOL, co-founder of Lenoarmi (together with her mother María Rosa Puigvert), has been involved with the methodology since she was 12 years old. She studied physiotherapy in Germany, specialising in neurology and paediatrics.
She returned in 1992 to run her school and give new impetus to the children's activities by developing an innovative ‘bilingual’ concept for movement and education both in the water and on land.
In her lecture ‘Lenoarmi and Montessori: Two methods and an innovative fusion in aquatic education’, she will talk about how to integrate Montessori philosophy and pedagogy into swimming lessons. Lenoarmi has his own method, which is also combined with other compatible approaches.
The Lenoarmi method, which promotes a holistic approach through movement and contact with water, is ideally complemented by the Montessori philosophy, which encourages independence, free choice and respect for individual learning rhythms. At Lenoarmi, we have created an innovative fusion that combines the best of both worlds: the multi-sensory experience of water and the promotion of independence and self-discovery, which are central elements of the Montessori approach.
NOEMÍ SURIOL specialises in physiotherapy (Germany) in neurology and paediatrics and is certified in Positive Discipline. She has a diploma in Montessori pedagogy and postgraduate studies in pedagogical and preventive psychomotor skills.
She is certified at the Neurological Institute of International Human Services (Philadelphia) in Infant Stimulation in collaboration with Gym Mc Gonagle.
She has trained extensively in the field of osteopathy for children.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
LUDMILLA ROSENGREN sowed the seed for the development of baby swimming in Austria. We are delighted that she is reporting on "Babyswimming Through Time in Sweden – Insights for Instructors".
In 1979, baby swimming was introduced in Sweden from Germany. At that time, baby swimming was more about interaction than actual swimming. Submerging the baby underwater was a significant part of the activity, not least for taking underwater photographs. It was also believed that the diving reflex was essential for the child to be able to swim. Over the years, baby swimming in Sweden has evolved into a structured and organized practice, with water safety as the main focus and a more child-centered approach.
As views on children and parenting have shifted over the years, baby swimming has also had to adapt. A greater understanding of child development and the importance of early bonding has led to changes in both the teaching methods and the overall approach to baby swimming.
Ludmilla has played a significant role in shaping this development by founding the Swedish Baby Swimming Association in 1997. Through her efforts, instructor training has been standardized, ensuring a high level of quality and safety in baby swimming classes across the country.
In the early years, there was no formal training for swim instructors, whereas now there is a clear certification process in place. Linnéa's Swim School, founded in 1993, has had to continuously reevaluate its teaching methods, how the business is managed, how instructors are recruited and trained, and how communication with customers is handled.
In this lecture, Ludmilla will share her best insights from her years of experience with baby swimming. You will take away many concrete ideas to implement in your own practice.
Dr. Ludmilla Rosengren is a licensed physician, certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (CBT), and an expert in baby swimming with over three decades of experience. She began her journey in baby swimming in 1989 and founded her own swim school in 1993. Since then, she has trained thousands of baby swimming instructors and played a key role in establishing the Swedish Baby Swimming Association in 1997. Ludmilla also assisted at the founding of the Austrian Baby Swimming Association (ABA).
In addition to her work in baby swimming, Dr. Rosengren is a prominent advocate for mental health. She founded Suicide Zero in Sweden, an organization dedicated to suicide prevention. She has authored several books, including "the Babyswim Book" and others on mental health, and has conducted research on the diving reflex in infants. Dr. Rosengren's expertise has made her a sought-after speaker at conferences around the world for over 25 years, where she shares her knowledge on baby swimming and related areas.
With five children of her own, Ludmilla combines her professional expertise with personal experience, making her a passionate and dedicated educator. Her current research at Uppsala University explores the impact of baby swimming on postpartum depression, and she continues to inspire others by promoting the importance of mental well-being and early parent-child bonding.
2 speakers are still missing and we need to introduce them: One of them is JULIE-ANN JAMES:
She is an industry pioneer, & founder of Aquababies Global & PABS Aquatics, Julie-ann is considered one of the World’s leading baby, toddler swimming, and aquatic business consultants.
With a background in competitive swimming, teaching, coaching, & mentoring, she has travelled the Globe applying hands-on research for 34 years to create innovative Aquatics concepts, expanding Aquababies Global in 12 countries.
A tutor for UK STA, qualifying coaches in 16 countries, Presenter for ASCTA, Swim Australia, with a multitude of Qualifications. Julie-ann also designed the 4 x Level 2 Curriculums for SSA. (Singapore Swimming) which demonstrates her expertise is considered valuable.
Now pivoting to focus on consultancy to offer a variety of premium aquatic wellness concepts to create bespoke programs in a growing market in Swimming, Wellness & Aquafitness ecosystem.
In her presentation "Creative Age-Appropriate Baby & Toddler Lesson Plans & Themes" she will offering insights on how to teachers can create lesson plans based age-appropriate activities.
What does that mean?
Activities generally accepted as suitable and developmentally appropriate for the children's chronological age or maturity level, based upon the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioural capacities of the individual child.
In simple terms, your child will benefit from and learn so much more if the activities you incorporate into your swimming lessons are age appropriate.
Knowing a child’s development milestones development milestones and then apply that knowledge to create your own water educational playground.
Adding sensory & Learn By Play Activities make your lessons interesting & fun for parent, child & teacher.
This workshop will also provide supportive take home resources with a tried & tested lesson plan.
Our last speaker will talk about ‘Gender and water’, a very topical subject in the gender debate.
Gender as a social category guides our perception of people and characterises our interaction with each other.
Gender determines from an early age which swimwear children wear and which water experiences are possible with it. The assessment and evaluation of children's behaviour is already influenced by gender stereotypes in infancy. Who gets what praise for what, what stories are told to boys, girls and non-binary children, who is trusted to do what.
How fathers or mothers are addressed during baby and toddler swimming also depends on social expectations of men and women.
In his lecture, Markus Nau addresses the question of whether and how gender equality can be promoted in baby, toddler and children's swimming.
Markus Nau is a social pedagogue and studied applied ethics in healthcare and social services. He completed his training in baby and toddler swimming at Aqua & Soul in Munich.
He has been active in the field of gender education in boys' and men's work, as a lecturer at the KSH Munich and in adult education for 20 years.
