Haze Advisory: SwimSafer Assessments and Rescheduling

Haze conditions may affect your scheduled SwimSafer assessment. The Assessment Centre (TAC) follows SAQ’s assessment cancellation arrangements.

This guide explains when to expect updates, what to do before travelling, and how rescheduling is handled.

When will an assessment be cancelled?

• The evening before: 8pm check

  If the 8pm reading shows a 24-hour PSI above 200 in any zone, SAQ will cancel all assessments scheduled for the following day.

  Affected candidates will be notified by email, with instructions on rescheduling.

• On the assessment day

  If assessments have not been cancelled the evening before, a cancellation may still be announced approximately 2–3 hours before your assessment, depending on conditions.

  Please check your registered email address, including your spam or junk folder, before leaving home.

• After arriving at the venue

  Conditions may change after you arrive, and an assessment may still be cancelled on site.

  The absence of a cancellation email does not guarantee that the assessment will proceed or be completed.

What should I do before attending?

• Check your registered email the evening before and again before travelling.

• Check your spam or junk folder for assessment updates.

• If you have not received a cancellation email, report at your scheduled reporting time.

• Follow your original assessment instructions and bring all required items.

• Allow for possible changes, including cancellation after arrival.

Parents and guardians should check updates on behalf of child candidates. Please refer to communications relating to your own booking, as arrangements for other swimming lessons or programmes may differ.

What happens if my assessment is cancelled?

Your cancellation email will include rescheduling instructions. Please follow those instructions and complete any required steps.

Do not assume that your assessment has automatically moved to another date or make a duplicate booking unless instructed.

If you cannot find an expected cancellation email or need help understanding the instructions, contact TAC.

What about refresher training?

Refresher training and assessments have separate arrangements. An assessment cancellation does not automatically confirm the status of your refresher session.

If you have refresher training booked with TAC, please follow TAC’s updates for that session. If your training is affected, contact us to confirm the next steps for your preparation and assessment booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I postpone my assessment because I want to avoid the haze?

  If your assessment has not been officially cancelled, your booking remains scheduled.

  Based on our current understanding, a preference to avoid the haze alone is not an accepted reason for rescheduling. Requests on medical grounds require supporting documentation, such as a doctor’s memo or medical certificate (MC), and remain subject to SAQ’s review and approval.

  Please contact TAC before your assessment if you need assistance with a request.

• My child missed lessons because of the haze and may not be ready. Can we wait until lessons resume before taking the assessment?

  We understand that disruptions to lessons can affect your child’s preparation and confidence.

  However, based on our current understanding, missed lessons or a preference to have more preparation time are not accepted by SAQ as grounds for rescheduling an existing booking.

  Please discuss your child’s readiness with their swimming coach and contact TAC early if you have concerns. Your booking remains unchanged unless a rescheduling request has been approved or the assessment is officially cancelled.

• Does a doctor’s memo or MC guarantee rescheduling?

  Supporting medical documents do not automatically confirm a change of date.

  Rescheduling remains subject to SAQ’s review and approval.

  Please contact TAC promptly for submission instructions and wait for confirmation of the outcome.

• Do I need an MC if SAQ cancels the assessment because of haze?

  No medical document is needed to explain your absence from an assessment that has been officially cancelled. Please follow the rescheduling instructions in the cancellation email.

• Can I miss the assessment and arrange another date afterwards?

  Please do not assume that non-attendance entitles you to rescheduling.

  If there is no official cancellation or approved change to your booking, you are expected to report as scheduled. If you or your child is unwell, seek medical advice and contact TAC promptly regarding the next steps.

• Does “report as scheduled” mean my child should attend even if unwell?

  No. If your child is unwell, seek medical advice and inform TAC promptly. The reporting instruction applies to candidates whose assessment is proceeding and who have no approved change to their booking; it does not replace individual medical advice.

Stay updated

Please keep your registered email address accessible throughout this period and check for updates before travelling.

We understand that uncertainty and last-minute changes can affect your plans. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.