Council Adopts Updated Aquatic Child Supervision Policy
Published on 24 October 2025
Southern Grampians Shire Council has adopted a new Child Supervision Policy for all Council-operated outdoor swimming pools, highlighting its commitment to the safety of children, families and staff.
The updated policy, endorsed at the October Council Meeting, will take effect from the beginning of the 2025/26 Outdoor Pool Season. It replaces the Watch Around Water accreditation currently in place at outdoor pools, which will continue to apply at the Hamilton Indoor Leisure and Aquatic Centre (HILAC).
Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Dennis Heslin said the adoption of this policy enables a more efficient and effective response for all Council employed lifeguards, allowing Council to tailor the policy to meet service needs while ensuring the safety of all pool users and staff.
“The policy remains in alignment with the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations (GSPO), which reference national industry standards that are enforced by state and local governments. It includes and extends on current Watch Around Water policies to provide increased clarity on facility entry for minors and education for large group entry.”
The policy will remain unchanged for children five (5) years and under with no entry permitted without an appropriate parent or guardian (aged 16 or over) willing to swim with the child and remain within arm’s reach.
Children aged 11 years and under will require active supervision by a parent or guardian while at the pool. This is an increase from the previous age limit of 10 years.
“Raising the supervision age reflects research showing that incidents often occur among children aged 0-14. Our goal is to reduce the risk to potential injuries and drowning in public aquatic facilities,” Cr Heslin explained.
In line with the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations to ensure safe supervision levels, groups / families will not be permitted entry where the number of Parent / Guardian’s supervising a group of children under 10 years exceeds the ratio of 1:4. Larger informal groups of children arriving at an aquatic facility may also be required to participate in a short safety briefing to the entry policies and may be refused entry.
“This policy builds on the Watch Around Water policies with a view to reduce the number of youth related behavioural incidents encountered at all Council Outdoor Aquatic Facilities.
“Through implementation of this policy and associated actions staff will have clear age-related guidelines on facility entry for minors and education for large group entries,” concluded Cr Heslin.
Council encourages all parents, guardians, and community groups to familiarise themselves with the new policy ahead of the upcoming pool season.
For more information visit Pools Southern Grampians Shire Council or view the policy here.
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