Practice Note No. 15 - Water Safety - Division of Local Government ...

APPENDIX 2CHANGE ROOM OPTIONSSwimming pools with family change roomsSwimming pools are currently being constructed which usually provide either separate change rooms forfamilies or, more commonly, combined change rooms for people with disabilities and families. Thesechange rooms are in addition to single sex change rooms.In most instances these facilities will be adequate so that there will be no need for children to use changerooms for use by the opposite sex. However, there may be times when there is a high level of demand forthe family change rooms, particularly where these change rooms are also used by people with disabilities.Consequently, councils should consider developing a policy concerning the following:Øpriority to be given to people with disabilitiesØthe use of single sex change rooms by children of the opposite sex (see section below on developmentof a council policy)Swimming pools without family change rooms but with separate change rooms for people withdisabilitiesWhere swimming pools do not have family change rooms but do have separate change rooms for peoplewith disabilities, that is, they do not require patrons to move through single sex change rooms to gain accessto them, consideration should be given to making these facilities available for use by families.The provision of combined change rooms for people with disabilities and families is consistent with theBuilding Code of Australia which provides for toilets and showers for people with disabilities at publicfacilities to also be used by other people.Making change room facilities currently available for people with disabilities available to families maymean that there are occasions when people with disabilities will not be able to use the facilities withouthaving to wait a substantial period of time. Consequently, councils should consider developing a policyconcerning the following:Ø priority to be given to people with disabilitiesØ the use of single sex change rooms by children of the opposite sex (see section below on developmentof a council policy)Practice Note 15: Water Safety19