NEWS

UPDATE 6.6.20

YES, We are back from SAT the 13TH of June!

We are super excited to have been given the green light to resume Swim Schools again. Our team has been working hard to make sure we will all return safely back in the pool! So stay tuned, we will be sending you an email regarding return information, protocols and more updates through social media this week.

Each venue will confirm what dates they are opening this week and will be in touch to book you seamlessly back into swimming lessons. 

There will be a few changes as we start to stay Covid-19 safe as your wellbeing is at the forefront of our minds. We missed you! See you back in a few days! 

For industry approval information, check out the link below.

https://www.ausleisure.com.au/news/approval-of-industry-plan-sets-path-for-reopening-of-queenslands-swimming-pools-and-aquatic-centres/

UPDATED 3.6.20

As we find ourselves closer to re-opening we want to keep you updated on the latest communications that have started to roll out.

QLD has now moved to Stage 2 of the Government Roadmap to Recovery from COVID-19, what this means for Swimming pools is that we can operate under compliance of an Approved COVIDsafe Management Plan.

The Swimming Pool and Aquatic Centre advocacy group for QLD submitted an industry management plan last Thursday for approval by the Chief Health Officer. We are anticipating the feedback over the next few days. We will continue to keep you all up to date as things progress.

So check in to our social platforms, the tide is turning!

We are cleaning venues and setting up for your return! We are super excited, so stay tuned!

UPDATE 18.5.20

Valued customers, we are working closely with Councils and Government to be able to return safely to swimming, we will continue to update you all as we learn more, we are excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel, the Tide is Turning! 

See you all soon.

UPDATE 12.5.20

Reducing the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission in venues

It is impossible to support and nurture young children without touching them or letting them be close to each other.  However, organising the environment to limit children playing close to one another and consciously thinking about our behaviour can assist in implementing the social distancing rules.

For children, we have adjusted some class routines, increased the size of class areas, and in some instances lowered the teacher to child ratios. Please see below our current standards for everyone attending venues for swimming lessons.

If children, parents or team members develop flu-like symptoms, please:

• Stay at home and self-isolate.
• Avoid close contact with others, especially mass gatherings.
• See a doctor or contact 13HEALTH (13 43 25) immediately.
• Seek medical advice remembering to call ahead to the medical centre or doctor’s surgery, advising of their symptoms.

All team members and customers attending classes, please:

• Wash their hands for a minimum of 30 seconds regularly with soap and water, particularly before and after eating, and after going to the toilet.
• Use an alcohol-based sanitizer if soap is unavailable.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of the elbow; and
• Dispose of any tissues in the bin immediately.

To prevent the possible spread of the virus, we will:

Swim School will incorporate creative and innovative ways to engage with students while still practising physical distancing and minimising risk. These include:

• Remain diligent in cleaning high touch areas throughout the day. This includes door handles, reception desks, phones, baby change tables etc.
• Teachers should attempt to avoid close face to face contact with parents and students. Water safety of our children is still paramount, which includes not turning their back to classes and maintaining within arms reach for non-swimmers and poor swimmers.
• Where applicable remove any shared play areas and remove any toys, books or other items.
• No team members should be sharing cups, water bottles or utensils. 
• adapting activities that may lead to mixing between classes, including reduced use of common areas and not sharing aids and swim toys.
• Where possible, adding flexibility to the work shift by staggering start and finish times, recesses, lunch breaks and other key transition times.
• Where possible, avoiding close-proximity queuing and encouraging increased space between students, for example, reducing class sizes.
• Encourage students to maintain 1.5m distance when entering or leaving a class area.
• Where possible, conducting lessons outdoors or in environments with enhanced ventilation.
• Where possible, arranging swim school furniture to leave as much space as possible between chairs.
• Maintaining small classes.
• Ceasing public access to playgrounds and high touch play equipment.
• Teachers maintaining 1.5m physical distance from other adults in venues.

Use of equipment by children in a swim school setting is unlikely to appreciably increase the risk of exposure to the virus when compared with other activities undertaken. When using equipment, swim schools should consider the following precautions:

• Allocating each child their own piece of equipment for their exclusive use for the entire class.
• Cleaning equipment at the end of each class prior to being used by the next class.
• Limit, or avoid use of any toys or equipment that could potentially be placed into the mouth by a baby (cups, toys).
• Ensuring children wash their hands (or apply alcohol-based hand rubs) before and after class, and 
• Excluding unwell children and staff.

How is Rackley Swimming working with our customers?

• Make-ups will be made available for all customers regardless of lesson frequency per week.
• Contactless payment options.
• Online Customer F1RST Parent Portal *coming soon.
• Families may take the option to swim at ‘quiet times’ to help minimise large numbers of customers gathering in peak periods, e.g. bedtime babies during the week instead of a Saturday morning.

UPDATE 23.3.20

Dear Rackley Swimming families, we would like to say thank you, for your continued support of our business; without you - our valued customers - we would not have the business we have had for the past 20 years.

The updated government advice released last night, Sunday 22nd March, regarding the reduction in places of social contact, has led us to make the responsible decision to close our venues, for the safety of our customers and staff. We will be closing our swim schools from 12pm today (23/03/2020) until further notice.

The impact of this is enormous for our team, and we are certainly grateful for their dedication and incredible work ethic, through these challenging and unprecedented times.

There is no need for you to do anything regarding your child’s classes - we will hold your current days, times and teachers for when swim school re-commences. We have ceased any debits and will be in contact with you as soon as we can recommence operations.

We will be keeping you updated regularly and have some great initiatives to help the kids stay busy whilst they are at home; so, keep an eye out for our EDMs and activities. For future updates and information, please visit our website or social media channels.

Please stay safe, heed to hygiene and social distancing requirements, and please look after each other. We look forward to getting back in the pool and teaching swimming again.