Syakirah Sinin

Review of Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness

The following feedback is specific to the Swim Sch...

The following feedback is specific to the Swim School. Please read on as I hope this review will inform future students of the swim school to consider.

I am a current student in their swim school. I go for evening lessons once a week after work. Unfortunately on Tuesday 21 March 2017, there was extreme thunderstorms that striked Sydney. Commuters heading home in the rush hour were all affected. Trees uprooted, road accidents, flash floods, train stations shut - the roads were chaos. Google it and you will see numerous articles and videos of taht evening. A journey to the school that would normally take me 30 min took me 1h 15 min. I made multiple calls to the school throughout my journey to tell them I was stuck on the road literally in gridlock and they told me to email to reschedule. I took their instruction and emailed the school.

Unfortunately the reponses I have received from them is very upsetting. They wrote back saying that they can only reschedule if I gave 72 hours notice or provide a med certificate. Otherwise I have to pay to reschedule. I replied saying that there is absolutely no way to foresee or predict that the extreme weather is going to cause widespread havoc that evening. I can't anticipate the train stations shutting down, flooding on streets and numerous car accidents. What I asked for was decency in considering that the abovementioned was out of my control. I did everything possible to call the school and even got my friend who was already in the school to let them know.

They further responded saying that i didn't give them "enough warning" and without the 72hr notice, they couldn't offer my place to someone else who needs a makeup lesson (aka they lose $19.50). 72hr notice for the effects of weather that I can't predict?! I would if I could! What baffles me is that the policy accepts medical certificates if someone fall sick that day, but not other unforeseen uncontrollable act's of God. Makes me wonder if we'll be treated similarly should a student met other unforeseen circumstances or last minute emergencies.

I must emphasise, the issue here is not about the $5 rescheduling fee but the principle behind it. I am disappointed as this swim school is part of (and representative of) the prestigious and world renowned Education institution, University of Sydney, that endeavours to produce successful students and NOT intimidate them to succumb to the centre's "Profit&Loss" driven goals. Shame.