Information for Facilities
 
 

Recreation SA is launching Watch Around Water in SA for the 2011/12 year.

The official launch will be held at the new Marion Aquatic Centre on September 9th 2011 during the SA Aquatics Conference.

Information on Watch Around Water in South Australia and endorsed centres can be found at http://www.watcharoundwater.com.au
 
 
 
 
Industry Comments on Watch Around Water
 
 
Mel Elkin, Aquatic Operations Manager,
Croydon Leisure & Aquatic Centre 
 
Croydon Leisure & Aquatic Centre has found the 'Watch Around Water Program' to be a fantastic tool in assisting with the awareness of parent supervision that is required at a public pool.
 
We took on the program late last year and have seen a large difference in the 'near misses' with children getting themselves into difficulty with no parent to assist while swimming at our centre. Parents are being made aware of the 'within arms reach' policy which has had a positive effect the level of supervision of children by their parents.
 
Tracking wondering children to their parents is very difficult at the best of times and having this policy in place and with signage around to inform parents has made it a lot easier for the lifeguards to educate the parent on adequate supervision. The program has also given our centre the opportunity to highlight the role of a lifeguard to patrons and that we are not a baby sitting service so to speak.
 
I think the 'Watch Around Water Program' is a fantastic initiative and something ARV and LSV should be very proud of.  Looking forward to moving forward together.
 
 
David Antonello, Assistant Manager
Wyndham Leisure & Events Centre
 
Watch Around Water was launched at Wyndham Leisure & Events Centre in January 2009.  From the 1 January all patrons attending the facility with children under 10 years of age were handed a flyer at reception with information about the program. 
 
During the time that it took to hand out flyers and place wristbands on any child under five years of age, the details of the program and the centre’s expectations regarding supervision of children were explained to the parent / guardian.  One of the major benefits of the program at the centre has been its use as a tool for staff to educate all pool users.
 
The benefits also extended out into the pool area itself.  As the lifeguards became more familiar with the program, the wristband system made their job easier.  Children with wristbands and no parents were easily identified and able to be removed and returned to their parents, once again using the program as a tool to educate.
 
Watch Around Water, continues to feature on monthly Learn to Swim and Member newsletters as well as on the centre’s website.
 
 
Liz Wilson, Manager
Melton Waves
 
Melton Waves Leisure Centre have introduced the Watch Around Water program these July 2009 school holidays.  Centre Management identified a need for parents / guardians bringing their children to Waves to be better educated about the importance of active supervision of their children whilst swimming.  Watch Around Water addressed management concerns so the decision to implement the program was an easy choice to make.
 
The resources and support Life Saving Victoria have given have assisted in a smooth introduction of the program.  Although the advice from Life Saving Victoria was to phase the program in, Melton Waves Leisure Centre decided from the first day of the school holidays to enforce all of the mandatory guidelines, including that parents / guardians coming into the centre with children under the age of six needed to be ready to swim with their child.  We expected that this may be met with some resistance as it has not been previously enforced, but so far it has been positively received by the public.
 
Management believe this is due to the fact that over eight weeks all staff were trained and educated on what the program was all about.  This was achieved through articles in the fortnightly staff newsletter, by its inclusion as a topic on the agenda at every management meeting, a compulsory attendance full staff meeting where Life Saving Victoria presented, and follow up staff meetings with each area of the Centre to address any concerns.  Melton Waves Leisure Centre's front line team have also done an excellent job in taking the time to educate parents / guardians as they come in to the Centre making it easier for the Lifeguards to enforce the message once the children are in the swimming pools.
 
Educating the community on the Watch Around Water program will be an ongoing campaign, but it was started one month prior to its introduction, with Council being fully briefed, public notices around the Centre, updating and location change for our conditions of entry and a press release.  From 6 October 2009, Melton Waves Leisure Centre are enforcing the new conditions of entry, and that they are not negotiable, giving the staff two school holidays to get the message out into the community before we hit the peak of summer.
 
 
Daniel te Hennepe, Operations Coordinator
Waves Leisure Centre (Highett)
 
Watch Around Water was launched at Waves Leisure Centre in December 2008.  During the summer school holidays the lifeguards found the program to be of great help when educating parents / guardians in the centre on the supervision levels that we expect. 
 
Prior to program being launched, duty managers and lifeguards had problems explaining to parents the reasons behind the supervision levels at the centre.  With the initial training, handouts, brochures and the ongoing support and feedback from ARV, we have seen both supervision levels in the centre and the awareness of parental supervision rise significantly.
 
Prior to the program we found that supervision was very good during the 'waves' sessions due to the clear levels that the centre had set on supervision during these times.  We then found as soon as the waves were turned off that supervision levels became blurred, and dropped due to this.  By now having clear supervision constraints that are being explained to patrons via signage and handouts, staff improvements have been made.
 
We look forward to seeing the program move forward and being recognised across more facilities.  This can only help the safety of children at our leisure centres.