PARENTS

In the lead into January, the Melbourne based Ballkids Operations Team will host information sessions for parents/guardians of this year's Australian Open Ballkids.

The Ballkid Operations team comprises of:

• 1 Match Operations Lead
• 3 supervisors
• 6 Team Leaders
• 1 Nurse
• 1 Administrator
• 32 Team Members

 

The team come with a broad range of backgrounds including ex-ballkids, teachers, coaches and health professionals. All are highly trained within the Ballkids area and have undergone necessary background checks including a working with children check.

Ballkid Supervisors are on-hand at all times to ensure the safety of all Ballkids. Children who finish in the evening will be escorted to the pick up/drop off zone by an AO Ballkid supervisor. It is the Ballkids responsibility to notify a supervisor that they require an escort to the pick up zone. If children choose to leave the AO Ballkid room, they, like the general public are protected by security guards working at the venue.

Every precaution is taken to ensure the health and safety of the Ballkids. All Ballkids are provided with ‘Kool-It’ neck coolers and sun smart uniforms to reduce the chance of heat exhaustion. All Ballkids have access to water and Powerade to ensure they remain hydrated. In the event of a child becoming ill, St John’s First Aid is on-site at all times to assist. The Australian Open also has an ‘Extreme Heat Policy’ in place where play may be suspended if the temperature is deemed extreme.

Should you wish to contact your child please call / sms their mobile. Encourage your child to check their mobile regularly during their break off-court. Please note the Ballkids room is a very busy environment and this number should be used to relay critical information only. If there is an emergency, please contact the Ballkid Office on (03) 9914 4676.

Parking is available in the Yarra Park Car Park (MCG) for $10.00 (subject to change).

Ballkids may be selected to work a night session during the tournament. If your child is selected for a night session, they will start work at approximately 6:00 pm. Parents must be available to pick their child up at the end of night sessions. Permission to participate in night sessions is dependent of this.

Ballkid start times will vary each day of the tournament as we try to ensure your child does not work more than an eight hour shift. During the tournament, your child’s start time will vary from early morning through to 6:00 pm. Approximate start times are 9:30am, 3:30pm and 6:00pm (subject to change).

Tennis is a sport that is completed by score and not a time limit. This means that a match could last 1 hour or 3 days (like at Wimbledon 2010). Other factors affecting finish times are the weather, including heat and rain delays; match scheduling, court allocations, etc. With the varying start times of Ballkids throughout the day, we try to ensure your child does not work more than an eight hour shift, however there are occasions where a longer shift is unavoidable.

To find out what court your child will be working on you should sms or phone them to advise you.