Maccabi Aquatics Child Safety Policy

Maccabi Aquatics Integrity Policy Framework

Purpose

The safety of children and young people in our swim school is paramount and we want swimming to be fun, enjoyable and safe for all who access any of our programs, services, activities or events.

In order to safeguard children and champion their welfare, Maccabi Aquatics Limited (“Maccabi Aquatics”) has adopted this Integrity Policy Framework which, in turn, adopts and implements the relevant components of Swimming Australia’s National Integrity Framework.

Sports integrity means that athletes, supporters and fans can participate and celebrate sport, confident in the knowledge that they are part of a safe, ethical and inclusive environment. Threats to the integrity of sport include:

  • abuse of children and other persons in a sporting environment; and
  • failure to protect individuals in a sporting environment, from bullying, intimidation, discrimination, or harassment

The relevant components of Swimming Australia’s National Integrity Framework that form part of our Framework comprise the following policies:

  • Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
  • Member Protection Policy
  • Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy
  • Code of Conduct

These can be accessed via the Swimming Australia website: https://www.swimming.org.au/resources/swimming-national-integrity-framework.

Scope

The Framework applies across all participants enrolled in Maccabi Aquatics’ programs. It applies to the interactions that take place between children and either employees and/or parents as well as interactions that occur between children while Maccabi Aquatics’ programs are being conducted. Maccabi Aquatics has a duty of care to protect the safety and welfare of all children participating within its environment. The requirements indicated in this Framework, and in the reference documents forming part of Swimming Australia’s National Integrity Framework, are applicable to all activities and operations of Maccabi Aquatics.

Responsibilities

Employee Responsibilities

All employees are responsible for familiarising themselves with, and adhering to, Maccabi Aquatics’ Integrity Policy Framework.

Head of Aquatics Responsibilities

The Head of Aquatics will oversee compliance with this Framework and related processes, and act as the point of contact for any integrity queries or concerns, or for feedback on the Framework and related processes.

Maccabi Aquatics Responsibilities

  • Maccabi Aquatics will publish and promote this Framework to all employees, participants in its programs, and parents.
  • Maccabi Aquatics will ensure that its Teacher and Coach Code of Conduct is communicated to and visible to, all employees, participants in its programs, and parents.
  • Maccabi Aquatics will adopt, implement and comply with the Child/Young Person Safe Commitment Statement (Appendix 1 of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy).
  • Maccabi Aquatics will adopt, implement and comply with the Child/Young Person Safe Practices (Annexure B of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy).
  • Maccabi Aquatics will adopt, implement and comply with the Recruitment, Screening and Training Recommendations (Appendix 2 of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy).
  • Maccabi Aquatics will comply with the requirements of “Responding to Risk of Abuse and Harm to Children and Young People” (Annexure A of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy).
  • Maccabi Aquatics will ensure that all employees requiring Working With Children Checks provide a valid Check and that these are validated at appropriate intervals.
  • Maccabi Aquatics will implement induction processes and ongoing training processes to familiarise employees with this Framework and their obligations under the Framework.

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

  • All swimmers under 10 years old must always be supervised by a parent/guardian whilst in the pool area.
  • Parents/guardians are responsible for placing their swimmers into our swimming teacher’s/coach’s care at the commencement of each lesson/squad session and collecting them at the conclusion. The lesson/squad session concludes when the teacher/coach dismisses the students from the pool and does not include the time spent either before or after the lesson/squad session in the change rooms.
  • If, in the course of supervising your child, you notice anyone taking photos or images of your child, and you have not already given consent for this, you must immediately report this to a staff member who will approach the individual, remind them of the Maccabi Aquatics photographic and video policy and delete the images from their phone/device.
  • If you are in the change room with your child and observe someone taking photos or videos of any child, including their own, you must immediately report this to a staff member who will approach the individual and delete the photos from the phone/device while protecting your identity.

Review

Maccabi Aquatics’ Integrity Policy Framework will be reviewed annually and in response to any amendment or review that Swimming Australia undertakes of the National Integrity Framework.

 

Version 2.0 (March 2025)