Aquatic Supervision

Did you know that drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children 0–4 years of age? 

According to the Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report 2021, 294 people fatally drowned in Australian waterways last year. Out of those 294, 47 were under the age of 18, and 25 were under the age of 5. The number one location of these drownings was at swimming pools, and we want to ensure that this statistic decreases every year by educating our members about the danger of unsupervised swimming. 

While we do have lifeguards prepared for extreme circumstances, it is important that parents and guardians are fully aware of what their children are doing at all times. Below are our Aquatic Supervision rules when visiting our venue. 

Key messages for parents and carers: 

• Under 5 years – always keep them within arm’s reach  
  If your child is under five years of age, supervision must be within arm’s reach – meaning you need to be in the water with your child. 

• Under 10 years – always keep them in sight  
  Constant active supervision is required for children. Parents and carers must be prepared to enter the water and maintain constant visual contact. 

• Be aware of distractions - Take steps to minimise distractions – such as mobile phones or chatting to other parents – to avoid lapses in supervision. 

• Be prepared - Ensure you have everything you need before getting into the water, such as towels and dry clothes. 

If you are a weak or non-swimmer, we encourage you to: 

• Tell a staff member before you go in, we’re here to help! 

• It’s ok to admit you are a non-swimmer, be recognised and survive 

• Wear a water safety orange wrist band while in the water to be recognised by lifeguards (you can get these at reception) 

• Swim within safe depths according to your ability 

• Never swim in deep water if you are a non-Swimmer 

• Be aware of drop zones in pools and abrupt depth change areas 

• Swim with a friend or companion 

Parents and guardians should also be on the lookout for areas of water that cannot be properly supervised such as those that have glare on the surface, too much shade, or are out of line of sight. These things can prevent you from seeing what is going on in and underneath the water, therefore leading to an increased number of accidents. Distraction and disturbance are also common causes of accidents around pools, meaning parents may need to adjust their supervision strategies to suit the environment. 

If you would like to improve your swimming ability or want to learn more about aquatic supervision, please contact us! We have swimming classes for people of all ages and abilities led by qualified teachers and who are always happy to help.