Backyard pool safety: 3 habits for families

Backyard pool safety rests on three habits. Watch children actively whenever they are near the water. Get them into swimming and water safety lessons. Keep your pool fence compliant every day of the year. Each habit covers a gap the others can’t. Together, they make your backyard pool a safer place to grow up.

Is pool safety in Australia getting better?

Yes, for young children. The National Drowning Report 2026 from Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia recorded 11 drowning deaths of children under five in 2025/26. That is 39% below the 10-year average. The report credits sustained investment in pool fencing, legislation and public education. More than half of those deaths still happened in backyard pools.

Pool fences work. The job now is keeping every one of them working. Here are three habits that do exactly that.

1. What does active supervision around a pool look like?

Active supervision means your full attention is on the children in or near the water. For children under 5, stay within arm’s reach and ready to get in. Put the phone down. Leave the washing and the barbecue until swimming is over. With a group, name one adult as the watcher and swap the role in turns.

A certificate can never replace supervising your children around the pool. The fence is there for the moment no one is watching.

2. Why do swimming lessons matter for pool owners?

Swimming lessons build water confidence, survival skills and respect for the water. If you have a pool at home, lessons belong near the top of the list. Start early and keep them going through the year. Learning basic CPR is just as valuable for the adults in your home.

3. How do I keep my pool fence compliant between certificates?

In Queensland, you need a current pool safety certificate to sell or lease a property with a pool. Your pool barrier must stay compliant the whole time, certificate or not. Fences change quietly. Hinges lose tension, ground erodes and plants creep towards the barrier.

Walk your fence line once a month and ask these questions:

• Does the gate swing shut and latch on the first try, from any position?
• Is the gate ever propped open for convenience? It never should be.
• Is the 900mm non-climbable zone clear of furniture, toys and pot plants?
• Have shrubs or trees grown close to the fence?
• Has rain eroded the ground under the fence, opening a gap over 100mm?
• Is the fence still at least 1200mm high from the ground outside?

Our pool safety checklist covers the main points Rob checks at an inspection.

How long does a pool safety certificate last?

A pool safety certificate (Form 23) lasts 2 years for a non-shared pool, like a house or townhouse. It lasts 1 year for a shared pool at an apartment complex, hotel, resort or caravan park. Book a check before it expires and your fence stays compliant between sales and leases.

How can Rob help keep your pool safe?

Rob spent 20 years building pool fences before he became a QBCC licensed pool safety inspector. He checks your pool against 100+ safety points and walks you through the findings. If your pool is compliant, your pool safety certificate is delivered the same day. If it needs work, you get a Form 26 and a clear report with photos. The re-inspection must happen within 3 months, from $79 + GST.

Rob can do minor repairs himself, like a latch, a hinge or a short section of fence. Bigger work is quoted upfront. Want a check first? Book a pool safety consultation.

Read the guide to QLD pool safety laws for every rule in plain English.

Book your pool safety inspection

Keep your pool safe for every summer ahead. Call Rob on 0457 445 197 or book a pool safety inspection online. Inspections start from $100 + GST, and Rob is usually able to inspect within 24 hours of your call.