Safe use of our pools
Kiwa Pools is for our whole community. To keep everyone safe and healthy we have rules about supervising children, good hygiene and staying home if you're unwell.
We also expect respectful behaviour at all times towards our staff, other visitors and the facilities.
Kiwa Pool rules
Kiwa Pools is a smoke-free and vape-free complex. To keep our facilities safe, welcoming and family-friendly please follow these rules:
✅ General conduct
- no smoking or vaping anywhere in the complex
- no gang-related clothing, symbols or patches
- shower and use the bathroom before swimming
- children under 3 must wear a swim nappy
- check the water depth before entering the pools - depths may vary
- report any pool accidents to lifeguards immediately
- use rubbish bins - no littering
- always follow lifeguards' directions - they are trained to keep everyone safe
❌Prohibited actions
- no swimming if unwell or recently ill
- avoid alcohol or drugs before swimming
- no rough play, running or pushing in or around our pools
- do not dive without proper supervision or experience or without lifeguard permission
- avoid holding your breath and swimming underwater, especially after hyperventilating.
- no glass bottles or items
- no food in the pool area
- no photography without permission
You may be asked to leave Kiwa Pools if you refuse to follow lifeguard instructions, or your behaviour threatens the safety or enjoyment of yourself or others.
Adult-to-child ratios
To keep children safe in our aquatic facilities, we have adult-to-child supervision ratios. These ratios set the maximum number of children one adult can actively supervise in the water.
- If your group does not meet the required ratio, you will not be able to enter the complex until it's met.
- Any additional children require an extra caregiver aged 16 years or older.
Actively supervising means staying focused on your children at all times, please:
- keep your phone away - watching children closely without distractions
- stay in the same pool area as your children.
It is your responsibility to look after your children at all times.
Wristband colours
To help our lifeguards easily identify children's ages, wristbands are provided at reception when you arrive. Adults get a band too.
🔴Pink - children under 4 years old. Caregivers must keep within arm's reach at all times.
🟠Orange - children aged 5 - 7 years.
Supervision requirements
| Age group | Supervision requirement | Adult-to-child ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Under 4 years | Adult/caregiver (16+) must be in the water and within arm's reach at all times | 1 adult : up to 2 children under 4, OR 1 adult : 1 child under 4 and up to 2 children aged 5-7 |
| 5-7 years | Adult/caregiver (16+) must be actively supervising - watching, ready to help and close enough to hear and respond. | 1 adult : up to 4 children aged 5-7 |
| 8-11 years | Adult/caregiver (16+) must remain within the complex at all times | No set ratio, but caregiver presence required. |
Safe and suitable swimwear
✅ Acceptable clothing
- swimsuits - one-piece or bikini/tankini
- shorts ending above the knee
- rash shirt
- modesty wear
- swim nappy - compulsory for children under 3
- swim briefs
❌ Clothing that's unacceptable
- denim or cotton clothing
- loose-fitting clothing
- underwear of any kind
- standard or disposable nappies
Q&As on the rules and policy
Answers to some of the frequently asked questions
This helps our pool staff identify a child's age and that a caregiver is looking after the child.
We also use wristbands for large groups and for hydro slide users. This is to assist our staff to manage numbers in the pool.
Active supervision means watching your children at all times and being able to provide immediate help.
- You must be close enough to see your child, your child sees you, hear your child and be heard by your child.
- For children 4 years and under you must be in the water with them and within arms reach.
Active supervision is not head down using a mobile phone, or being in another pool, or distracted in a discussion or in the changing room or toilet.
If you need to leave the pool side to go to the toilet, you must make sure your child/ren hop out of the water until you're back.
No. It’s important to remember that active supervision is about constantly watching and always having a clear view of your child.
- You can grab a coffee if your child goes with you.
You need to be within arm's reach and that can't be achieved if you're on the side of the pool.
Adults get a band too so our staff know you need to be within arm's reach of a child.
Not being in the water with your child means you could be easily distracted and take your eyes off your child.
Also young children are still developing their balance - being in the water may affect their balance and they can fall over more easily.
Being in the pool with your child is more fun and a better experience for your child.
Being a good swimmer doesn’t take away the other risks within the pool area space such as other children – rough play/risk taking
Rules apply to everyone and for clarity and consistency there's no exceptions. Our policies follow PoolSafe accreditation guidelines to make sure everyone's safe in a high-risk environment such as our pool complex.
It's great that you took the time with your children in the water and they're confident swimmers. We have a big variety of swim abilities coming through our doors so we need to have clear rules around this to keep the pool safe for everyone.
Staff will work to educate pool users, but if children are not accompanied by a suitable caregiver they won’t be allowed in the water.
If there’s continued failure to comply with our policies, you may be asked to leave the complex for the safety of your children and other users.
Compliance
Breaches of rules may result in staff requesting your full name and address.
Staff may call police or issue trespass notices for any breach of rules or unlawful activity.
Entry may be refused for inappropriate dress or behaviour.