Safeguarding in Aquatics

The Y NSW is committed to ensuring that children and young people growing up in Australia experience safe, healthy and positive environments.

Within our aquatics program, our experienced instructors help you to learn and have fun in a safe environment. We believe everyone should have access to potentially life-saving swimming lessons.

Our swim programs help develop aquatic ﬁtness and water safety skills for people of all ages and cultures, with physical and intellectual disabilities. Our program also builds conﬁdence and empowers participants to achieve their best.

We expect all our teachers, parents, and students to be respectful and welcoming of all our students, regardless of age, race, language, gender, country of origin, cultural background, sexual orientation, religion, or ability.

We Expect Our Students Will…

Arrive to class on time
Listen to and follow all instructions given to you by your teacher/staff member
Arrive to your class and leave with a parent/guardian
Feel comfortable, welcome, and part of the group
Treat teachers and other students with respect and understand that we are all different
Speak to your parent, guardian, or teacher at any time if you feel upset, unsafe, or uncomfortable "Stay Safe, Tell Someone"
Obey all rules regarding the pool and the centre
Let your teacher know if you are feeling unwell
Try your best

We Expect Our Parents Will…

Always encourage your child to respect your teacher and other students
Ensure you know the rules of the pool and teach them to your children
Speak to your Wet Deck Supervisor/Frontline staff/Swim School Coordinator if you have a question regarding your child’s swimming lesson. Alternatively, you can contact us via our website
Leave feedback for our program via our RateIt devices so you can let us know what we are doing well or how we can improve your experience of our swim school
Focus on your child’s efforts, be positive and leave the teaching to the teachers
Be responsible for their children’s safety outside of class time
Ensure you are on pool deck supervising your child according to your centre’s conditions of entry
Instil a respect and understanding of the water and environment into your child
Understand that swimming takes years of practise and that progress will not occur overnight
Respect the swim school staff and the decisions they make regarding the progress of your child. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact your swim school
Read all Term’s & Conditions, as well as communication sent to you from your centre so you are aware of important dates, notices and information regarding you/your child’s swim lessons
Disclose any health or medical conditions that may be present in your child so we can better support their swimming lessons. Please be aware that this information will remain private
Disclose any personal or family matters that may be relevant to your child’s swimming lesson or attendance to the centre

We Expect Our Teachers Will…

Respect students and parents always
Be sensitive towards the differing cultures, genders, and abilities of their students
Adequately supervise their students at all times
Deliver constant feedback that is both positive and constructive
Always speak and behave appropriately in front of students and peers
Provide students with rules so they will know what they can and can’t do within their lesson
Explain any activity that may require teachers needing to safely support students in a weightless environment, including where they may need to position their hands. If a parent or child is uncomfortable with a teacher’s hold, please inform your Wet Deck Supervisor/Frontline staff/Swim School Coordinator and an alternative solution can be discussed
Educate their students in a supportive and guiding manner
Only practise submersions with students when they are ready
Begin their classes on time
Understand and exercise their duty of care and adhere to the Y’s policies and procedures
Aim to progress students’ skills and knowledge to the best of their ability
Instil a sense of fun and engagement in their students’ swim lessons
Come ready to work in a uniform/in a presentable manner
Escalate any concerns they may have regarding a student with their supervisor

Report an Incident

Behaviour Code for children and young people

The Y NSW must make sure that everyone taking part has seen, understood and agreed to follow the code of behaviour, and that the consequences of inappropriate behaviour is understood.

We expect people who take part in our program/service to show appropriate behaviour at all times.

You should:

cooperate with others
be friendly
listen to others
be helpful
have good manners
treat everyone with respect
take responsibility for your own behaviour
talk to a parent, guardian or teacher about anything that worries or concerns you
follow this code of behaviour and other rules (including the law)
join in and have fun!

You shouldn’t:

be disrespectful to anyone else
bully other people (online or offline)
behave in a way that could be intimidating
be abusive towards anyone

What happens if I decide not to follow the code of behaviour?

This code of behaviour is part of our process for making sure everyone who takes part in our services is aware of what is expected and receives the support they need.

Minor or first-time incident
If you behave in a way that doesn’t follow our behaviour code, our staff or volunteers will remind you about it and ask you to comply with it. They will give you an opportunity to change your behaviour.
This gives you the chance to think and to plan how you could behave differently, with support from staff and/or volunteers.

Formal warning
If you continue not to follow the code of behaviour after your first reminder, or if your behaviour is more serious, you will be given a formal warning by the person running your activity.
They will make a record about what happened and inform your parents or carers if this is appropriate. They will also talk with you about what happened and agree what support you need to improve your behaviour in the future.
We may also decide that a sanction is appropriate such as restricting you from taking part in some activities

Final warning
If the support that has been put in place isn’t helping you to change your behaviour, we may need to give you a final warning. Again this will be recorded and we’ll inform your parents or carers as appropriate.
At this point, we may need to talk with you and your parents or carers about other services that might be more able to give you the support you need.

Child protection procedures

If any member of staff or volunteer becomes concerned that your behaviour suggests you may be in need of protection or that you may present a risk of harm to other children and young people, they will follow our child protection procedures. This may involve making a referral to the local authority.

If child protection procedures are necessary we will talk this through with you and your parents as soon as possible, unless doing so would put you in danger or interfere with a police investigation.

The role of parents and carers

Parents and carers are valuable partners we will involve them as appropriate. We will always inform and involve your parents or carers if you receive a formal warning about your behaviour, unless doing so would put you in danger.