Watch Around Water

Watch Around Water is an education and awareness campaign run at public swimming pools to reduce drowning and aquatic injuries amongst children through improved parental supervision.

Guidelines and Policy

Supervision policies are an essential part of the Watch Around Water program. These policies have been developed based on national and international best practice standards.

• Children under 6 years old (aged 0-5 years) must be accompanied into the centre by a responsible adult (aged 16 years or older) and supervised within arm's reach at all times. This means that if the child is in the water, the parent/guardian must be ready to enter the water.
• Children under 6 years old must be wearing a watch around water wristband provided by the centre. The accompanying adult must also wear a wristband.
• Children under 12 (aged 6-11 years) must be accompanied into the aquatic centre by a responsible adult (aged 16 years or older) and supervised within the line of sight at all times. This means the parent/guardian must have clear, constant and direct access to the child at all times.
• All unsupervised children will be removed from the water.

Supervision ratios

• 1 guardian per 2 children 6 and under.
• 1 guardian per 5 children 12 and under.

These policies are a minimum standard and some pools may choose to operate at a higher level.

Check out the Watch Around Water supervision policies and a full list of registered pools. Alternatively, you can contact your local pool for more information.

Visit the Watch Around Water website to learn more.