Child safety questions for a swim school or kids' activity
Questions about staff checks, supervision, changing rooms, collection and complaints before choosing a swim school or children's activity.
Before enrolling a child in swimming, dance, sport or another activity, ask how the organisation handles the moments outside the lesson plan: changing rooms, collection, one-to-one contact and complaints. A screening clearance and a child-safe policy answer different questions. This guide gives you a short visit-and-enquiry worksheet, using current NSW and Victorian regulator guidance without assuming every state has the same rules.
Ask to see the system, not just a badge
The NSW Office of the Children's Guardian recommends asking to see policies, procedures and the Code of Conduct, taking a tour, asking about staff training and finding out how complaints are handled. It also says leaders should welcome parents' questions. These are practical checks you can use when comparing providers; the NSW Child Safe Scheme requirements themselves should not be assumed to apply identically in another state. Ask for the name or role of the child-safety contact, a copy of the staff behaviour rules and the route for a concern about that contact. Keep the answers with your enrolment terms so you can find them later.
Questions, tours, staff conduct and complaints guidance for parents and carers.
NSW Children's Guardian: spotting a child-safe organisationCheck the worker-check process for your state
Victoria describes its Working with Children Check as a screening process that considers criminal history, certain court orders, relevant disciplinary findings and other child-safety information. A clearance is evidence of that process; it does not tell you who supervises a particular class or how a complaint will be handled. The Victorian application page also records a change from 19 October 2026: applicants must complete mandatory child-safety training as part of their application. Ask how the provider checks that the adults doing the work have the clearance required for their roles, and how it handles changes or expiry. Use the regulator for the state where the activity operates. Do not accept an application receipt as an explanation of the provider's current staffing arrangements.
What screening covers and the current application and training requirements.
Victoria: Working with Children CheckWalk through a normal lesson and an unusual day
Ask the provider to describe arrival, the lesson, toilet or changing-room access, and collection in order. Who notices if a child leaves the group? What happens when a regular instructor is absent? How are an unfamiliar collector, late parent or child needing extra assistance handled? For a swim school, ask which adult supervises the lesson and which supervises waiting children and changing areas. For a dance or sports class, ask about private coaching, photography, transport and direct messages between staff and children. These are booking questions rather than a universal staffing-ratio rule. Record the actual arrangement offered for your child's age and needs.
Worked comparison: two reassuring answers
Hypothetical example. Provider A replies, "All our staff are checked." Provider B explains who verifies clearances, provides the behaviour policy, identifies the collection procedure and gives a complaints contact outside the instructor. A has answered only one part of the enquiry. Ask it the remaining questions rather than treating the badge as the whole assessment. B has given you arrangements you can compare with what you observe on a visit. Neither answer guarantees safety; follow up a mismatch between a written policy and what happens in practice.
Make the conversation ongoing
The NSW Children's Guardian advises parents to ask children about their experiences and let them know they can talk if they feel worried or uncomfortable. After the first sessions, ask open questions about what they enjoyed, who helped them and what happens when they need a break. If a concern arises, use the organisation's documented process and seek the relevant child-safety authority's guidance where needed. Keep dates and the answers you receive. An attractive timetable or discount should not leave you without a clear person to contact.
Keeping parents and children involved and making complaints understandable.
NSW Children's Guardian: parent guidanceYour quick checklist
Tick these off as you go. This checklist resets when you leave.
Useful starting points
General information to help you ask questions. Check requirements for the particular service and your state or territory.