WATCH AROUND WATER PROGRAM

Surf Life Saving SA proudly delivers the Watch Around Water program, a vital public education and awareness initiative aimed at reducing the risk of drowning and injury to young children in public swimming pools. The program supports aquatic facilities in promoting safe supervision practices, leading to a more enjoyable environment for families participating in sport and recreation.

Developed by the aquatics industry, Watch Around Water is built on the understanding that while qualified lifeguards and facility staff play a crucial role in maintaining pool safety, it is unrealistic to expect them to provide one-on-one supervision for every young child. Instead, the program reinforces that parents and guardians hold the primary responsibility for supervising their children at all times. While lifeguards and facility staff provide vital backup and respond in emergencies, they cannot replace the close and constant supervision that young children require from their caregivers.

Through training, signage, policy guidance and active community engagement, Surf Life Saving SA works directly with aquatic centres to implement and uphold the Watch Around Water principles. By embedding these best practice standards across South Australian facilities, the program not only reduces risk but also demonstrates a proactive commitment to child safety, aligning closely with the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations (GSPO) SV14: Supervision of Children.

Key Principles

• Children under 5 years must be constantly supervised and remain within arm’s reach of a parent or guardian over 16 years of age.

• Children under 10 years must be constantly supervised by a parent or guardian over 16 years of age and remain in sight at all times.

• The program directly supports risk mitigation in public swimming areas by aligning with GSPO SV14: Supervision of Children Under 10.

Program Implementation

• Watch Around Water is adopted by facility management as a Condition of Entry.

• Watch Around Water centres are provided with signage, flyers, training and resources to communicate the program’s key principles effectively to their patrons.

• Resources support aquatic staff at accredited Watch Around Water centres to promote the importance of active supervision around all bodies of water, helping ensure consistent and effective child safety messaging.

• Depending on the location and layout of the water area, the Watch Around Water message is best communicated through signage. This may be permanent or removable depending on the facility.