Pool Safety
The Gawler Aquatic Centre prides itself in maintaining a safe and enjoyable swimming experience for all, but in doing so we need your help. The Gawler Aquatic Centre is fully monitored by two qualified lifeguards at all times.
Watch Around Water is an education and public awareness raising program that addresses the supervision of young children at public swimming pools. The program assists aquatic staff to promote safe supervision practices and provides a safe venue for the community to participate in sport and recreation.
The program was developed by the aquatics industry and is based on the premise that it is unrealistic to expect lifeguards to provide the constant and close supervision required for each young child at the pool at all times. Although lifeguards should always be present, the responsibility of supervision of children is shared between lifeguards and parents or responsible carers.
Watch Around Water Key Principles
- Children under 5 years must be constantly supervised and remain within arms reach;
- Children under 10 years must be accompanied into the facility and constantly supervised by a parent/ guardian;
- Unsupervised children (of any age) will be removed from the water if the lifeguard is concerned for their safety.
This year the Gawler Aquatic Centre has implemented a new policy in regards to supervision ratios in line with the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations (GSPO). The Supervision Ratios have been implemented as they are best practice and assist in providing a safer swimming environment to all. The Supervision Ratios will apply to all Learn to Swim Families. The Supervision Ratios will be as follows:
- Maximum Ratio: Children under 5 years – 1 adult to 2 children aged 0-4 years. Children 0-4 years of age be accompanied in the water at all times by a parent/caregiver.
- Maximum Ratio: Children under 10 years (5-9 years) – 1 adult to 4 children aged 5-9 years. Children aged 5-9 years of age must be actively supervised at all times by a parent/caregiver.
- Maximum Combination Ratio: 1 adult to 1 child aged 0-4 years and 3 children aged 5-9 years. If an adult has one child 0-4 years of age they can only have a maximum of three children aged 5-9 years old.