Schools must consider age, maturity and skill level of students when planning curriculum activities. Ensure participants’ current level of confidence and skills in the water have been tested. Consult the sequence of competency found in the
water safety and swimming education program for guidance at each year/band level. Adjustments are required for
students with disability to support access and participation in the curriculum. Consult with the parents/carers of students with disability, or when appropriate the student, to ensure risks related to their child’s participation in the activity are identified and managed.
Schools must consult current student medical information and/or health plans in accordance with the
managing students' health support needs at school procedure. Record information about any student condition (e.g. physical or medical, such as
epilepsy) that may inhibit safe engagement in the activity and include specific support measures within emergency procedures.
Emergency plans and injury management procedures must be established for foreseeable incidents (e.g. rescue process, provision of CPR and
first aid) and incorporate the advice from local authorities.
Adult supervisors must have:
- emergency contact details of all participants
- a medical alert list and a process for administering student medication
- communication equipment in waterproof containers suitable to conditions (e.g. mobile phone) and a process for obtaining external assistance and/or receiving emergency advice.
Safety procedures must be determined for the location (e.g. water entry, out of bounds areas) and incorporate advice from off-site facility, if relevant.
Ready access is requiried to buoyant and rescue aids at various locations within the venue (e.g. lightweight poles, water noodles or ropes with a float attached).
Access is required to
first aid equipment and consumables suitable for foreseeable incidents.
An adult with current emergency qualifications is required to be quickly accessible to the activity area. Emergency qualifications include:
-
HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or equivalent; and
-
HLTAID011 Provide first aid or equivalent competencies.
Induction is required for all adult supervisors on emergency procedures (e.g. hand up for assistance, rescue process), safety procedures (e.g. active and direct supervision for each supervisory role, hand up for assistance, water entry/exit) and correct techniques. If the activity is conducted at an off-site facility, induction is to be informed by advice provided in consultation with expertise at the venue.
Instruction is required for students on safety procedures and correct techniques (e.g. buddy up, water entry). Rule-reminders are to be provided during the activity.
Supervision
Principals make final supervision decisions for the activity. Sufficient adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (including emergency situations).
For activities with students with a medical condition or disability that may impact on safety during the activity, consultation with parents is required prior to allocating supervision to determine the impact of students’ medical condition or disability on safety during the activity.
The number of adult supervisors required to fulfil emergency and supervision roles must consider the nature of the activity, students’ ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs.
Supervision ratios are determined in consultation with the swim teaching class ratios
from the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association. In some instances, the supervision ratio may be 1:1.
Specific roles for supervisors must include recovery, emergency and general supervision roles. All adults assigned recovery and/or emergency roles (e.g. lifeguard) are to be easily identifiable e.g. through use of clothing or similar.
At least 2 adult supervisors are required. Final supervision required to fulfil recovery, emergency and supervision roles must consider the nature of the activity, students’ ages, swimming competence and specialised learning, access and/or health needs.
For activities with a class group of students in years 7–12 who are determined to be water-safe in the activity location (e.g.
surf survival certificate), 1 registered teacher may be sufficient to fulfil recovery, emergency and supervision roles for activities. In this situation, students must be inducted to respond correctly in an emergency by clearing the water, assembling in a safe area and providing assistance (e.g. seeking adult help, summoning an ambulance and/or acting in a support role in resuscitation).
Participants must adhere to all rules and advice communicated by local lifeguard service, facility operator/owner and any safety signage at the facility/location.
Before the activity, all adult supervisors:
- must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record
- must assess
weather conditions prior to undertaking the activity, inspecting the intended location in order to identify variable risks, hazards and potential dangers.
During the activity, all adult supervisors:
- must be readily identifiable
- must be appropriately dressed to perform an immediate rescue at all times
- must provide active and direct supervision – be constantly vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
-
must ensure each student under 5 years of age remains within arm’s reach of an adult supervisor at all times
- must closely monitor students with health support needs
- must ensure all students in the water are in sight of at least 1 adult supervisor at all times
- must monitor shared facilities (e.g. change rooms, public access areas)
- must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
- must suspend the activity if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. overcrowding, extreme temperatures, thunderstorms), if relevant
- must not allow competitive breath-holding or 'no-breath' underwater games
- must not rely on students to recover a person in difficulty at any time.
Supervisor qualifications
Principals make final decisions in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and are responsible for encouraging and enabling school-based activity supervisors to raise their qualifications to improve safety standards.
All adult supervisors must comply with the
working with children authority – blue cards procedure and be able to identify, and respond to, risks or hazards that may emerge during the activity.
A registered teacher
must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.
At least 1 adult supervisor is required to have a current water safety and swimming teacher qualification from a registered training organisation (RTO) or governing sporting body, e.g.
AUSTSWIM, and demonstrate capacity to perform an appropriate rescue procedure including using appropriate rescue aids.
For water safety and swimming education activities
Qualifications for the adult supervisor leading the activity:
- a registered teacher with demonstrated ability to perform rescues appropriate to the location. Examples of demonstrated ability include:
- competence (knowledge and skills) in water safety e.g. current professional development from Royal Lifesaving, such as
Swim and Survive
- a water safety and swimming instructor qualification from an RTO governing sporting body covering
SISCAQU002 – Perform basic water rescues unit of competency
- a current bronze medallion appropriate to the activity environment
- or another method determined by the principal
or
- an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with a statement of attainment from an RTO or governing sporting body covering
SISSS00112 – Swimming and Water Safety Teacher skill set or equivalent.
For stroke correction activities and skill practice sessions
Qualifications for the adult supervisor leading the activity:
- a registered teacher with demonstrated ability to perform an appropriate rescue. Examples of demonstrated ability include:
- qualifications in physical education or equivalent demonstrated capability
- a water safety and swimming instructor qualification from an RTO governing sporting body covering
SISCAQU002 – Perform basic water rescues unit of competency
- a current bronze medallion appropriate to the activity environment
- another method determined by the principal
or
-
an adult supervisor with accreditation as a
development coach with Swimming Australia.
Additionally for activities with students less than 5 years old
One adult supervisor with a statement of attainment from an RTO or governing sporting body covering
SISCAQU011 – Foster the development of infants and toddlers in an aquatic environment unit of competency or equivalent
Additionally for activities with students with a medical condition or disability that may impact on safety in the water
One adult supervisor with a statement of attainment from an RTO or governing sporting body covering
SISCAQU012 – Assist participants with a disability during aquatic activities unit of competency or equivalent.
Facilities and equipment
The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.
Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed. Undertake a reconnaissance of new or infrequently used venues to ascertain suitability.
Venue with appropriate toilet and change facilities, accessible to students with disability as required. Consult the
health and safety checklist – swimming pools for guidance in identifying hazards.
A working emergency signal (e.g. whistle, air horn) must be readily available.
A clearly defined swimming area (e.g. using lane markers) of an appropriate depth considering student age and ability. Consult the
water safety and swimming education program for guidance at each year/band level.
If used, lifejackets and/or personal flotation devices that are fit for purpose and appropriate to students’ size and weight (e.g. conforming to Australian Standards AS 4758).
Follow the
school’s sun safety strategy, including appropriate swimwear (e.g. swim shirts), sun protection (e.g. sunscreen) and shade facilities when outside.
Each student must provide their own towel.
Where a facility is able to provide additional services such as a trained lifeguard, schools are to:
- obtain written confirmation of any bookings for these services
- supply a copy of the curriculum activity risk assessment to the service provider prior to the activity and address any queries the provider may have.
Note: That securing these services does not absolve the school of any supervision requirements.