QualityPool Lifeguard Competition

Developed by Recreation Aotearoa in partnership with Water Safety New Zealand, QualityPool is targeted at private swimming pools such as holiday parks, gyms, retirement villages, seasonal pools, hotels and motels, and schools It works as a self-review of an aquatic environment, benchmarking against specific standards the programme is conducted via a user-friendly online system

The standards encompass risk assessment and management, pool water quality, supervision, emergency procedures, signage, and health and safety The programme allows operators to review their pool(s) through one simple assessment system.

Currently there are 16 accredited QualityPools in New Zealand, including school pools, council paddling pools, and retirement village pools

Hamilton City Council has partnered with local schools to create the Partner Pools model to provide more aquatic space to the community In this article they share how QualityPool is integral to this model.

Explain the Partner Pools model and how it came about? Hamilton City Council provides financial support through operational grants to educational organisations (partner pools). This enables them to open their swimming pools to the wider community during summer, when the pools are not required for their school. The purpose of building these relationships was to increase the availability of pool space during the summer for the community and create ‘localised’ swimming spots.

How long has it been running? Council commenced developing partner pool relationships in 1999/2000.