Expo showcases employment opportunities for Murchison youth

Staff from Royal Life Saving WA recently travelled to Meekatharra, in WA’s Mid West region, to participate in the Murchison Youth, Health and Employment Expo.

The event was organised by Yulella Aboriginal Corporation, a charity organisation that provides employment assistance and community support within WA’s Murchison sub-region.

Held on Friday 20th August at the Meeka Oval, the expo provided an opportunity for the region’s youth to engage with local businesses and organisations to learn about health, employment, and education opportunities available to them.

Over 70 high school students from surrounding areas attended the expo to learn about various employment opportunities when they graduate. Royal Life Saving staff attended the event to promote employment opportunities through our Talent Pool program as well as providing general water safety education.

Through Talent Pool, Royal Life Saving WA offers training courses and ongoing support to encourage a career in the aquatic industry for Indigenous youth. Pool lifeguards, swimming teachers and pool managers are some of the opportunities available to young people engaged through the program.

Royal Life Saving WA’s Youth Water Safety Coordinator Georgia Eaton said, “it was great to see so many young people engaged in our messaging and interested in potential Talent Pool training programs.” 

As part of the water safety education component of our visit, attendees were asked what they would do if their mates were in trouble in the water. Most respondents stated they would jump in the water to save their friends; the response prompting staff to explain the safest options of reaching out or throwing items to their friends instead of entering the water themselves.

Aboriginal Australians continue to be overrepresented in WA’s drowning statistics and are 1.9 times more likely to be involved in a drowning incident than non-Aboriginal Australians in our state. People in regional areas of WA are also at greater risk (2.3 times) of being involved in a drowning incident.

Royal Life Saving WA is focusing education efforts on these groups, and through our Youth Water Safety program we aim to engage with these groups at an early stage to encourage greater awareness of the risks and promote water safety education. Learn more about our Youth Water Safety program at the link below.