Yandeyarra girls preparing for their future

Two students from Yandeyarra Remote Community School recently undertook lifeguard training as part of Royal Life Saving WA’s Talent Pool program in Port Hedland. South Hedland Aquatic Centre facilitated the training for the girls with the help of Royal Life Saving WA Pilbara Development Officer Jacqui Forbes.

Talent Pool is a youth engagement, training and employment initiative that positions local community swimming pools as vehicles to engage and develop first-time employment opportunities for Aboriginal youth throughout Western Australia. The program is supported by the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund and is unique in its aim to provide real employment outcomes for graduates. 

The two girls, Maddison Edgar and Brandy Coppin, have completed the lifeguard training with a view to pursuing work as community lifeguards. Although they are currently too young to commence employment, they’ll be supported during the interim with work experience in the coming months to build their confidence. 

Their first task will be lifeguarding at the Hedland Interschool Swimming Carnival next term, where they will be able to put into practise their new skills in supervising aquatic activities. After completing more work experience over winter, they’ll hopefully transition into employment as pool lifeguards next season after turning 16 later in the year.

Yandeyarra Remote Community School's Jessica Albers says the training opportunity has been amazing! "As their teacher, I’m very proud of the students’ achievements – they started last year with the completion of their ‘Provide First Aid’ certificate, and now have achieved their ‘Pool Lifeguard’ qualification also. This meant them working through several weekends, and after school most days at the Yandeyarra Pool doing their lifeguard training. It’s great that Yandeyarra Community has young people with the skills, ability and passion to work in this area, and it's also great that Yandeyarra School has been able to work so closely with Royal Life Saving, Yandeyarra Pool, and now form links with the South Hedland Aquatic Centre – these present many opportunities for training and hopefully, actual employment outcomes in the future."

For further information on the Talent Pool program contact Royal Life Saving Senior Manager, Workforce Solutions, Travis Doye at the link below.