Gunnedah Swimming Carnival
Thursday, 30 April 2026
Thank you to everyone who has entered our 2026 Gunnedah Swimming Carnival. Registrations have now closed. We will be in touch with all competitors soon with more information.
How you can support the Gunnedah Swimming Carnival
The Gunnedah Swimming Carnival has always been free to enter and attend. At Challenge Community Services, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to participation, particularly for people with disability. Sport and community events play a vital role in building confidence, friendships and joy, and everyone deserves access to these experiences.
Rising costs and increasing financial pressures now place the future of this free, inclusive event at risk. We are seeking your donation to help ensure the Gunnedah Swimming Carnival can continue without introducing barriers for participants and families. Your support will help keep this inclusive event accessible, sustainable and open to everyone who wants the chance to swim.
Donate to support inclusive swimming for all
While there is no cost for participants to attend, the carnival costs around $18,000 to deliver. With the support of community donations and sponsorships, we aim to raise $8,000 to help us offset these costs. Every contribution, big or small, makes a meaningful difference to ensure the day remains accessible, enjoyable and memorable for everyone involved.
Thank you to our Sponsors
We would like to thank Whitehaven Coal for their ongoing support as our Major Sponsor for the 2026 Gunnedah Swimming Carnival.
We would also like to thank our Gold Sponsor, Austbrokers and our BBQ Lunch sponsor, Petrie’s Mitre 10 Gunnedah, for their generous contributions towards our 2026 Gunnedah Swimming Carnival!
Frequently Asked Questions
Our swimming carnival is open to any person with a disability, aged 16 years or older.
We cannot allow entrants under 16 years of age to enter the swimming carnival.
We ask for a service provider in the entry form. If you do not have a disability service provider or are self-managed, please note this in the entry form.
We have two different types of events; Novelty events and Swimming Events.
Novelty event entrants are allowed to have a support worker assist them in the pool. Novelty entrants compete in:
- Egg and Spoon race
- Treasure Hunt and
- 25m Walk the Length race
Swimming event entrants are not allowed to have a support worker assist them in the pool. Swimming entrants compete in:
- 25m Kickboard race
- 25m Any Stroke race and
- 50m Any Stroke race
We ask for a service provider when you register so we can team you up with your friends. We will try to ensure you are not competing against your teammates on the day.
Please be aware that the Swimming Carnival can be a very loud and crowded event. If you are sensitive to large crowds or loud noises, please consider whether this event will be suitable for you.
We will provide a quieter area outside of the pool for attendees, however we cannot control the noise levels in the main pool area.
All entrants in the swimming carnival will be provided with a free BBQ, courtesy of our BBQ sponsor, Mitre 10 Gunnedah!
If you have specific dietary requirements, we recommend you bring along a packed lunch.
Gunnedah Memorial Swimming Pool has a hoist available to help attendees enter and exit the pool. If you need this hoist, please let us know in the registration form so we can ensure this is ready for your race.
If you enter our Novelty events, you are welcome to have your own support worker in the pool with you. Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide additional staff to assist with the events.
Yes – We love to see cheer squads and supporters at the Swimming Carnival!
Come along, get dressed up and Cheer Loud for your friends! We may even have a prize for the best supporter on the day.
Yes! We will have a professional photographer and videographer capturing all of the action on the day. We may even have some media and news crews attend for those of you who love the spotlight.
If you do not want to feature in any photos or videos on the day, let us know in the entry form and we will provide you a special wristband on the day.
