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Level 2, 407 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills NSW 2010
Tel: 02 9286 7276 Fax 02 9286 7267
MEDIA RELEASE
29th October 2010
Warm weather warning
The NSW Commissioner for Children and Young People and Convener of the Child Death
Review Team Ms Megan Mitchell has called for greater community vigilance around
children and backyard swimming pools with the onset of warmer weather in NSW.
The alert follows yesterday’s tabling of the Child Death Review Team 2009 Annual Report
which revealed that seven children drowned in private swimming pools - five incidents
involved either faulty or inappropriate pool fencing, or pool gates being propped open.
“While child deaths overall have been reduced in NSW there remains strong concern about
the number of swimming pool drownings,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Seven children drowned in private swimming pools in 2009 with five of the deaths
concerning young children accessing the pool without the knowledge of their carer.
“There were also issues with the barriers around the pool including faulty pool gate latches,
the absence of pool fencing or inappropriate fencing; or pool gates being propped open.
“These child deaths were preventable and the Child Death Review Team, along with others,
has consistently drawn attention to this issue.
“In the last three years alone, 22 children have drowned in NSW swimming pools, where
pool fences and pool gates were inadequate.
“That’s a lot of preventable child deaths and the Team has previously recommended that
local authorities should inspect all swimming pools in their area and monitor compliance
with pool safety legislation.
“While the Swimming Pools Act 1992 was amended in December last year, the Team has
recommended in yesterday’s annual report that the NSW Government provide local
councils with adequate resources to enable monitoring and compliance against the
requirements of the legislation.
“Pool fencing provides an environmental barrier but active adult supervision is also
needed,” Ms Mitchell said.
The Child Death Review Team is an independent panel of experts that investigates the
systemic causes of child deaths in NSW and makes recommendations to prevent or reduce
these deaths.
Media contact:
Michelle Neathercote
02 9286 7282 or 0413 456 080
NEWS 
