Introduction
Watch Around Water (WAW) is a campaign educating the public about active supervision, and encouraging parents / guardians to take on the responsibility of this role while visiting aquatic facilities.
The campaign aim is to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal drowning incidents and associated injuries in public aquatic facilities in Victoria within the 0-14 year age group.
Campaign Components
Structured policies
Water safety principles
Increased communication
Multicultural awareness
Staff up-skilling
Active application
Facility specific
Evaluated formally
Mandatory Policies
1. Children under 10 years:
- must be accompanied into the centre by a responsible parent / guardian
- must be constantly and actively supervised
- parents / guardians must position themselves to have a clear view of the child with no physical
or structural barriers between them and the child / children
2. Children under 5 years:
- must be accompanied into the centre and the water by a responsible parent / guardian
- must stay within arm’s reach during recreational play activities
3. Children 10 years old and over:
- parents must use their knowledge of an individual child’s swimming ability and general development to determine the level of accompaniment required
Recommended Policies
Children under 10 years:
- maximum 1 Parent / Guardian to 4 Children
- maximum 1 Parent / Guardian to 2 Children
Accredited Facilities
- Adventure Park Geelong
- Albury Swim Centre
- Apollo Bay Leisure Centre
- Aqua Energy Leisure Centre
- Aquahub
- Aqualink Box Hill
- Aqualink Nunawading
- Aquamoves Shepparton
- Aquanation
- Aquapulse
- Aquarena Aquatic and Leisure Centre
- AquaZone Warrnambool
- Ascot Vale Leisure Centre
- Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre
- Avoca Outdoor Pool
- Bacchus Marsh Swimming Pool
- Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre
- Bairnsdale Outdoor Pool
- Ballan Swimming Pool
- Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre
- Balmoral Swimming Pool
- Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre
- Beaufort Outdoor Pool
- Belgrave Heated Outdoor Pool
- Bellarine Aquatic and Sports Centre
- Benalla Aquatic Centre
- Bluewater Leisure Centre
- Boroondara Sports Complex
- Brennan Park Aquatic Centre
- Broadford Outdoor Pool
- Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre
- Brunswick City Baths
- Camperdown Outdoor Swimming Pool
- Cardinia Life
- Carlton Baths Community Centre
- Carnegie Swim Centre
- Casey Aquatic and Recreation Centre
- Casey Recreation and Aquatic Centre
- Castlemaine Outdoor Pool
- Clayton Aquatic and Health Club
- Cobden Outdoor Swimming Pool
- Cobram Outdoor Swimming Pool
- Coburg Leisure Centre
- Coburg Olympic Swimming Pool
- Coleraine Memorial Swimming Pool
- Colignan Swimming Pool
- Collingwood Leisure Centre
- Crib Point Pool
- Croydon Memorial Pool
- Dandenong Oasis
- Daylesford Swimming Pool
- Diamond Creek Outdoor Pool
- Don Tatnell Leisure Centre
- Doug Ellis Swimming Pool
- Doveton Pool in the Park
- Drouin and District War Memorial Pool
- Dunkeld Swimming Pool
- East Keilor Leisure Centre
- Echuca War Memorial Aquatic Centre
- Eltham Leisure Centre
- Emerald Lake Park Wading Pool
- Faith Leech Aquatic Centre
- Fawkner Leisure Centre
- Fitzroy Swimming Pool
- Garfield Outdoor Pool
- Gisborne Aquatic Centre
- Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre
- Glenthompson Swimming Pool
- Golden Square Pool
- Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre
- Hamilton Indoor Leisure and Aquatic Centre
- Hamilton Olympic Swimming Pool
- Harcourt Outdoor Pool
- Harold Holt Swim Centre
- Hawkesdale Outdoor Pool
- Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre
- Healesville Outdoor Pool
- Heathcote Swimming Pool
- Horsham Aquatic Centre
- Irymple Swimming Pool
- Ivanhoe Aquatic and Fitness Centre
- Kardinia Aquatic Centre
- Kensington Community Centre
- Kew Recreation Centre
- Kilmore Leisure Centre
- Kilsyth Centenary Pool
- Koo Wee Rup Outdoor Pool
- Kyneton Toyota Centre Sports and Aquatic
- Lakes Entrance Aquadome
- Lancefield Memorial Swimming Pool
- Landsborough Outdoor Pool
- Lara Swimming Pool
- Latrobe Leisure Churchill
- Latrobe Leisure Moe Newborough
- Latrobe Leisure Morwell
- Lavington Swim Centre
- Leisurelink Aquatic and Recreation Centre
- Lilydale Outdoor Pool
- Lismore Outdoor Swimming Pool
- Macarthur Swimming Pool
- Maldon Outdoor Pool
- Mansfield Swimming Pool
- Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre
- Marong Swimming Pool
- Melbourne City Baths
- Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre
- Melton Waves Leisure Centre
- Merbein Swimming Pool
- Merrigum Swimming Pool
- Mildura Waves Aquatic and Leisure Centre
- Monash Aquatic and Recreation Centre
- Monbulk Aquatic Centre
- Mooroopna War Memorial Pool
- Mortlake Swimming Pool
- Murrayville Swimming Pool
- Nathalia Outdoor Pool
- Neerim South Outdoor Pool
- Newstead Outdoor Pool
- Noble Park Aquatic Centre
- North Melbourne Recreation Centre
- Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre
- Numurkah Aquatic and Fitness Centre
- Numurkah Outdoor Pool
- Oak Park Aquatic Centre
- Oakleigh Recreation Centre
- Olinda Pool
- Olympic Leisure
- Orbost Outdoor Pool
- Ouyen Swimming Pool
- Pakenham Outdoor Pool
- Pascoe Vale Outdoor Pool
- Pelican Park Recreation Centre
- Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre
- Penshurst Swimming Pool
- Pines Forest Aquatic Centre
- Portland Leisure and Aquatic Centre
- Prahran Aquatic Centre
- Queens Park Outdoor Pool
- Rawson Indoor Pool
- Red Cliffs Swimming Pool
- Reservoir Leisure Centre
- Richmond Recreation Centre
- Robinvale Leisure Centre
- Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre
- Seymour War Memorial Outdoor Pool
- Skipton Outdoor Pool
- SPLASH Aqua Park and Leisure Centre
- Splashdown Leisure Centre Whittington
- St Albans Leisure Centre
- St Arnaud Swimming Pool
- Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre
- Strathmerton Swimming Pool
- Sunbury Aquatic and Leisure Centre
- Sunshine Leisure Centre
- Swan Hill Leisure Centre
- Swan Hill Outdoor Pool
- Tallarook Outdoor Pool
- Tatura Swimming Pool
- Terang Outdoor Pool
- The Yarra Centre
- Thomastown Recreation and Aquatic Centre
- Thorpdale Outdoor Pool
- Timboon Outdoor Swimming Pool
- Trafalgar Swimming Pool
- Underbool Swimming Pool
- Wangaratta Indoor Sports and Aquatic Centre
- Wangaratta Olympic Pool
- Warracknabeal Outdoor Swimming Pool
- Warragul Leisure Centre
- WaterMarc Banyule
- Waterworld Norlane
- Waves Leisure Centre
- Werribee Outdoor Pool
- Whittlesea Swim Centre
- Windy Hill Fitness Centre
- Wodonga Sports and Leisure Centre
- Wodonga WAVES
- Woodend Swimming Pool
- Yarrawonga Swimming Pool
Register for WAW
Injuries in public aquatic facilities is a major issue faced by the Victorian Industry. Inadequate levels of personal supervision have been identified as a major area of concern when relating to the number of fatal and non-fatal drowning incidences involving young children.
Watch Around Water intends to raise the profile of the need for active parental supervision in public aquatic facilities, change management practices and increased staff knowledge / skills. As a result Watch Around Water is a must for public pools in Victoria. The program is supported and endorsed by LSV and ARV and links into the Play It Safe By The Water campaign.
For more information or to register your interest on joining the program please complete the form below and email to waw@lsv.com.au
Evaluation Reports
Being an accredited facility means that you are part of a State-wide initiative. The program and industry has the peak body support of both LSV and ARV, including the link to the highly recognisable Play It Safe by the Water campaign (PISBTW).
Evaluation 2013/15:
The 2013/15 (two yearly) evaluation saw LSV trainers and assessors visit over 90% of accredited WAW facilities The objectives of the visits was to review the systems and processes being implemented at a facility level to support the program as well as a review of the communication / marketing materials being used.
WAW Evaluation 2013-14.pdf
Evaluation 2012/13:
The 2012/13 evaluation project was aimed at establishing whether or not there had been any change in the awareness / perception of what constitutes appropriate active parental supervision. It was based on surveys and communications with facility staff and management regarding the program implementation.
WAW_evaluation_2012-132.pdf
Evaluation 2009/10:
The 2009/10 evaluation project was aimed at establishing the perspectives of parents and facility staff regarding what constituted appropriate levels of supervision and how this could be improved through the program. It was intended to establish whether the proposed program content was appropriate.
Watch_Around_Water_Awareness_Evaluation_Summary_2009-10.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions
Watch Around Water is a communications campaign. To support the program ‘FAQ’ documents have been developed and are continually updated to ensure a clear and consistent message is sent and that challenges associated with the program can be appropriately managed.
Two different FAQ documents are available for:
Ask a question by emailing waw@lsv.com.au or visit the Watch Around Water facebook page
The Watch Around Water Advisory Committee (WAWAC) was established in 2015 and has the task of providing guidance and advise on the future and development of the Watch Around Water program in Victoria. The WAWAC represent accredited Watch Around Water facilities and meet twice yearly with program staff from Life Saving Victoria to achieve these goals and drive the direction of the program. The current members of the committee are:
– Krysti Mirabella (Austswim)
– Ray Smith (Aquazone Warrnambool)
– Mel Elkin (Active Monash)
– Dylan Wyatt (Aligned Leisure)
– Reyna Johanson (City of Stonnington)
– Janelle Falkingham (YMCA Victoria)
– John Barton (Casey ARC)
– George Koumantatakis (Casey ARC)
– Adrian Paino (Maroondah Leisure)
– Trent O’Hara (Belgravia Leisure)
– Marty Moran (City of Yarra)
– Alek Olszewski (Western Leisure Services)
– Corey Ramsay (Coburg Leisure Centre)
– Lachie St Clair (Thomastown Recreation and Aquatic Centre)
– Rose Horzitski (City of Greater Geelong)
– Amy Cross (Life Saving Victoria) – Program Coordinator
– RJ Houston (Life Saving Victoria) – Manager Pool Safety
– Andy Dennis (Life Saving Victoria) – Chair
There are currently no vacancies on the WAWAC. To express your interest in joining the committee please email waw@lsv.com.au