A wave of excellence in Port Hedland

Eight swim teacher candidates completed a two day AUSTSWIM Instructor Course last weekend in Port Hedland, with 80% of the participants Indigenous young people eager to seize the opportunity to “learn and earn”. Over two days the candidates learnt how to teach swimming from industry expert Jeanette Hooper who said she was very pleased by the calibre and commitment of the students in Hedland.

There is a critical shortage of swim teachers across the North-West and the employment opportunities are excellent in Port Hedland and surrounding townships right around the Pilbara region. Royal Life Saving WA is committed to meeting the demand, and in doing so, creating pathways for Aboriginal young people to secure first time jobs.

These new instructors will now complete 20 hours of unpaid work experience at the South Hedland Aquatic Centre so they can complete the practical component of their qualification and get signed off by the local Swim School Coordinator Tracye Sykes. She says it will be fantastic to see this new wave of teachers join their team as she is keen to boost swim teacher numbers in Port Hedland to ensure children and adults can access lessons to learn vital swimming and water safety skills.

Royal Life Saving WA, through it's Talent Pool program, will now offer the successful candidates an additional opportunity to secure even more qualifications and become qualified as lifeguards and community aquatic trainers.

Royal Life Saving would like to thank all those organisation who got behind the students to enable them to complete last weekend’s training, including Vswans (REACH program), Hedland Taekwondo (Kickstart Employment), Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation (CDP), and BHPBIO who provided the financial sponsorship through their commitment to the Royal Life Saving Talent Pool first time jobs strategy.

You can find out more about Talent Pool at the link below.

If you’d like to become a Swim Instructor click below to learn more.