In2Swim Child Safe Policy and Guidelines

Our objective is to ensure our customers and staff enjoy a safe, respectful and enjoyable experience whenever they attend an In2Swim Swim School facility.

In relation to Child Safety, we are committed to ensuring we provide a child safe and child friendly environment that prioritises and emphasises the welfare of all children where they feel valued and safe.

Our Child Safe Guidelines are embedded in our people and culture thereby promoting awareness, regular monitoring, ongoing education and compliance. Our Child Safe Polices are underpinned by the NSW Office of the Children Guardian and their Child Safe Standards. [A child is a person under 18 years old. www.ocg.nsw.gov.au]

Our Guiding Principles

In2Swim is committed to the following operating principles:

Protecting all children attending our programs and facilities from abuse, neglect or mistreatment.
Ensuring Child Safe procedures are considered and embedded in all elements of our operation.
Ensure there is ownership and sponsorship of Child Safe policies and procedures at all levels within the organisation.
Actively listening to children and encouraging their feedback. Ensuring children’s concerns are acknowledged and taken seriously.
Regularly managing and reviewing environmental and operational Child Safe risks to ensure procedures remain effective and are continually improved.
Maintaining high levels of transparency and communication in relation to our Child Safe policies and procedures to promote a shared understanding of our objectives and obligations with children, parents, caregivers and families.
Any conduct that causes harm to children will not be tolerated.
Children are supported, respected and treated fairly.

Our Management Team

The senior team consisting of Operations Manager, Customer Service and Program Coordinators are committed to providing a child safe environment and are responsible for regular risk management review and the operational implementation of policies and procedures.

Our senior team are present on deck and in the water each day to observe and interact with teachers, children and families to ensure the highest standards of care and compliance are maintained.

Our Aquatots Coordinator (Amy Field) is the designated Child Safety Contact at Brookvale.

Our Staff

In2Swim undertake a number of activities to ensure all staff are screened for employment, suited to roles and receive training and ongoing education in child safe procedures. The behaviours and expectations of all staff are established in training and reinforced by relevant codes of conduct and ongoing feedback and coaching.

In2Swim undertakes the following procedures as part of its Child Safe employment program:

Employment screening – all new staff must successfully obtain a Working with Children Check (WWCC) from the Office of the Children’s Guardian in order to qualify for ongoing employment.
Induction training – all staff complete specific training in Child Safety provided as part of their induction and pre-qualification process.
Code of Conduct – In2Swim outlines in its Code of Conduct document, the required professional standards that all employees must adhere to when working at our facilities. This code includes specific references to child safe behaviours, processes, reporting and consequences. All staff are required to formally acknowledge and accept their professional obligations under this Code of Conduct prior to commencing employment at In2Swim.
Probationary period – All new staff are employed subject to the satisfactory completion of a 3 month probation period. During this period, each staff member is actively reviewed and monitored to ensure they demonstrate competencies to undertake their role with an emphasis on individual suitability for working with children.
Regular training and updates – as part of their ongoing training and development activities, all staff receive regular refresher training in Child Safe standards. Where there are changes in policies or procedures, updated training and testing is provided.

Open & Safe Reporting

It is important to have processes and systems that allow our customers and staff to raise any concerns or report incidents that relate to inappropriate behaviour around children. These systems need to be easy to access and provide a defined and transparent process for receiving, acknowledging and actioning concerns or complaints.

Our customers and staff are encouraged to report any observation of behaviour around children that does not meet our expected standards.

Feedback and or Complaints in relation to safety of children within our swim school environment can be reported in person to the Supervisor(s) on each shift (wearing the green shirt) or to our Customer Service team. Written communications can be sent directly to our Child Safe Coordinator, Amy Field by email aq******@*********om.au or by calling (02) 9907 1167. All complaints and feedback will be reviewed and investigated and responded to in writing.

Privacy & Confidentiality of Information

In2Swim acknowledges and respects that customers provide personal information in relation to their family and children.

Our privacy policy and procedures have been developed to ensure we collect, use and store private and personal data with the highest levels of security.

We understand that families have a variety of compositions and we ensure that our privacy processes extend to within family groups to maintain required segregation of child, personal and financial data as specified by parents and caregivers.

Our Privacy Policy is detailed on our website.

Guidelines for Parents & Caregivers

Our objective is to ensure our customers and staff enjoy a safe, respectful and enjoyable experience whenever they attend an In2Swim Swim School facility.

We want everyone to enjoy In2Swim free from abusive, insulting, threatening, or other anti-social behaviour.

We ask our customers to understand their important role and obligations as part of a Child Safe environment and to follow these Guidelines for Parents and Caregivers:

Ensure your child is always supervised by a parent or responsible person while attending In2Swim and they are present for the duration of their swim lesson.
Encourage your child’s participation in a positive and supportive way.
Advise an In2Swim Supervisor (Green shirt) or Customer Service Representative if your child may need extra support to participate safely (e.g. due to asthma, neurodivergence, allergies, vision, physical or hearing challenges).
Ensure your contact information is up to date so we can reach you in an emergency.
Ensure children do not enter or exit the water until confirmed by the Teacher or Supervisor
Treat everyone with respect and do not discriminate based on age, gender, race, ability, religion, language, politics, sexual orientation, background, or any other
Violent, aggressive, or threatening behaviour (physical or verbal) is not appropriate anywhere within the swim school environment and will not be tolerated
Interactions with In2Swim staff should be positively focused ensuring any concerns are raised with our Supervisors or Management Team and not in the presence of your child.
Avoid taking photos or videos of other children or young people (with any device – camera, phone, glasses or other) without the express consent of their Parents or Caregivers. Please contact our Supervisor before engaging with other customers.
Being under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other behaviour-altering substances is not acceptable.
It is not appropriate to seek contact with In2Swim staff outside of their business duties or to requesting any other support or service outside of In2Swim (e.g. babysitting or transport).
Concerns about the safety, well-being, and welfare of a child or young person should be immediately reported to a Supervisor, Customer Service or a Management Team member.
Provide feedback on any element of their In2Swim experience that affects the safety, well-being, and welfare of children and young people.
Serious or ongoing breaches of these guidelines will not be tolerated. Anyone who does not follow these guidelines may be asked to leave the program or facility.