Last Updated: September 2026

Swim Mechanix Australia Pty Ltd is committed to providing an environment where every child and young person is safe, supported, respected and included.

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We have zero tolerance for child abuse, grooming, neglect, harassment, discrimination or any other conduct that places a child’s safety or wellbeing at risk.

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Our approach is guided by the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and applies across all Swim Mechanix programs, facilities, activities and online environments.

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1. Our commitment

Swim Mechanix is committed to:

• making child safety part of our leadership, culture and everyday decision-making;

• prioritising the best interests of children and young people;

• listening to children and taking their concerns seriously;

• involving families in matters affecting their children;

• providing culturally safe, inclusive and accessible services;

• selecting, screening and supporting suitable employees and contractors;

• maintaining child-focused reporting and complaint processes;

• identifying and managing physical and online safety risks; and

• regularly reviewing and improving our child-safety practices.

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Everyone involved with Swim Mechanix has a responsibility to help protect children from harm.

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2. Children’s rights and participation

Every child participating in Swim Mechanix activities has the right to:

• feel safe and welcome;

• be treated fairly and with respect;

• be protected from abuse, bullying, discrimination and inappropriate conduct;

• have their privacy and dignity respected;

• communicate if they feel worried, uncomfortable or unsafe;

• have their concerns listened to and taken seriously; and

• receive information in a way they can reasonably understand.

 

Children are encouraged to express their views about their lessons and participation. Staff will consider a child’s age, maturity, communication needs and circumstances when listening and responding.

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A child will not be disadvantaged for raising a genuine concern or complaint.

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3. Families and guardians

Parents and guardians play an important role in maintaining a child-safe environment.

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Families are encouraged to:

• ask questions and provide feedback;

• discuss concerns with a Swim Mechanix staff member;

• keep emergency-contact and collection information current;

• provide relevant medical, disability, behavioural or support information;

• notify Swim Mechanix of applicable custody, access, protection or collection arrangements; and

• support their child to speak up if something does not feel right.

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Relevant information will be handled sensitively and in accordance with the Swim Mechanix Privacy Policy.

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4. Inclusion and cultural safety

Swim Mechanix respects the different backgrounds, identities, abilities and circumstances of children and young people.

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We are committed to providing services that are culturally safe, inclusive and accessible, including for:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children;

• children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;

• children with disability or additional support needs; and

• children who may experience additional vulnerability or barriers to speaking up.
   

Families are encouraged to discuss any reasonable adjustments or support their child may require.
 

Discrimination, racism, bullying and harassment are not acceptable at Swim Mechanix.

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5. Staff suitability and conduct

Swim Mechanix takes reasonable steps to ensure that employees, contractors and volunteers working with children are suitable for their roles.

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These steps may include:

• recruitment and reference checks;

• verifying qualifications and experience;

• Working with Children Checks where required;

• induction and child-safety training;

• supervision and performance management; and

• requiring compliance with Swim Mechanix policies and standards of conduct.
   

Staff must:

• behave professionally and respectfully;

• maintain appropriate boundaries with children;

• avoid favouritism, grooming and inappropriate personal relationships;

• use authorised communication channels;

• protect children’s privacy;

• respond appropriately to concerns and disclosures; and

• report suspected harm or inappropriate conduct.
   

Breaches of child-safety requirements may result in removal from child-related duties, disciplinary action, termination of engagement or referral to an external authority.

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6. Physical contact during swimming instruction

Swimming instruction may require appropriate physical contact to:

• support a swimmer in the water;

• demonstrate body position or technique;

• assist with a skill;

• prevent injury; or

• respond to an emergency.
   

Physical contact must be appropriate to the activity, necessary for instruction or safety and consistent with the child’s age and needs.
 

Where practicable, instructors will explain the assistance being provided and respect a child who expresses discomfort. Immediate action may be taken without prior explanation where necessary to prevent injury or respond to an emergency.
 

Unnecessary, excessive, inappropriate or punitive physical contact is prohibited.
 

7. Supervision and facility safety

Swim Mechanix assesses and manages risks associated with its lessons, facilities, equipment and activities.
 

Parents and guardians remain responsible for supervising children:

• before and after their scheduled lesson;

• in changerooms and bathrooms;

• while waiting at the facility; and

• at any other time when Swim Mechanix has not expressly accepted responsibility for supervision.
   

Children must not be left unattended at a facility outside their supervised lesson or activity.
 

Customers must follow staff directions and facility safety requirements.

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Mobile phones, cameras and recording devices must not be used in changerooms, bathrooms or other private areas.

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8. Photography, video and online safety

Photography and recording at Swim Mechanix facilities must comply with the Swim Mechanix Photography and Video Policy.

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Customers may only photograph or record their own child and must obtain prior approval from Swim Mechanix. Other children must not be identifiable without appropriate consent.

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Customers must not photograph or record staff without their consent.

Where Swim Mechanix takes photographs or recordings:

• applicable consent requirements will be followed;

• content will only be used for authorised purposes;

• access will be limited where appropriate; and

• reasonable steps will be taken to protect the child’s privacy and safety.

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Staff must not use personal social-media accounts or unauthorised private communication channels to communicate with children.

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9. Raising a concern

A child, parent, guardian, customer, employee or community member may raise a child-safety concern.

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A concern may be raised with:

• a Swim School Coordinator;

• another trusted Swim Mechanix staff member;

• Swim Mechanix management;

• hello@swimmechanix.com.au; or

• 08 6255 7740.

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Concerns may relate to:

• a child feeling uncomfortable or unsafe;

• inappropriate behaviour or communication;

• bullying, harassment or discrimination;

• suspected abuse, grooming or neglect;

• photography, privacy or online conduct;

• staff, contractor or customer behaviour; or

• the way an earlier concern was handled.
   

If a child is in immediate danger, contact emergency services on 000.

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10. Responding to concerns and disclosures

Swim Mechanix will take child-safety concerns seriously and respond in a child-focused manner.
 

When a concern is raised, we will:

• prioritise the child’s immediate safety and wellbeing;

• listen without dismissing or blaming the child;

• avoid asking unnecessary or leading questions;

• document and escalate the concern appropriately;

• limit information to people who need it to respond;

• support affected children and families where reasonably practicable;

• take steps to prevent further risk; and

• notify police, child-protection agencies, regulators or other authorities where required.
   

Swim Mechanix may need to act on a child-safety concern even where the person raising it asks that no further action be taken.
 

Privacy will be respected, but complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where information must be shared to protect a child or comply with the law.
 

11. Complaints and fair process

Child-safety complaints will be handled as promptly, sensitively and fairly as reasonably possible.
 

The safety and wellbeing of the child will remain the primary consideration. We will also provide procedural fairness to a person who is the subject of an allegation, where doing so does not compromise a child’s safety or an external investigation.
 

No person will be victimised or disadvantaged for raising a genuine concern in good faith.
 

12. Privacy and recordkeeping

Child-safety records will be handled securely and accessed only by authorised people.
 

Information may be retained where reasonably necessary for safeguarding, legal, insurance, employment or regulatory purposes.

Personal information is otherwise managed in accordance with the Swim Mechanix Privacy Policy.
 

13. Review and continuous improvement

Swim Mechanix regularly reviews its child-safety policies, risks, incidents, complaints, training and practices.
 

Feedback from children, families, staff and the community may be considered as part of these reviews.
 

Lessons identified from incidents or concerns will be used to improve our systems and reduce future risks.
 

14. Related policies

This policy should be read together with the:

• Swim Mechanix Child Safe Code of Conduct;

• Photography and Video Policy;

• Privacy Policy;

• Enrolment and Customer Policies Guide; and

• applicable internal reporting and incident-response procedures.
   

15. Contact details

Child Safety Contact
Swim Mechanix Australia Pty Ltd
3A Trumper Drive
Busselton WA 6280

Email: hello@swimmechanix.com.au
Telephone: 08 6255 7740
Website: www.swimmechanix.com.au

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