Making waves in the Goldfields thanks to BHP

Royal Life Saving WA has been able to run a variety of programs in the Goldfields region this year thanks to funding from our Principal Community Partner BHP. These programs include Talent Pool as well as the recent Goldfields Spirit Carnival.

The Talent Pool Academy aims to champion youth leadership and empower Aboriginal young people by proving the training and resources to gain first-time jobs such as pool lifeguards, swim teachers and pool managers.

Two participants that have benefited from the Talent Pool program are Miriam and Jayde from the Kalgoorlie Talent Pool academy. At just 19 years old, both girls are now the longest serving and most experienced Talent pool participants.

Miriam and Jayde both joined Talent Pool 18 months ago and each have a unique story.

While the Talent Pool program was running Community Rescue Club classes for Christian Aboriginal Parent-Directed School (CAPS) Kurrawang, School Principal Kylie Meredith put Jayde's name forward as someone who might benefit from the program and Jayde hasn’t looked back since. Her infectious smile and positive attitude have children requesting to be in her group activities every week.  

Royal Life Saving WA’s Goldfields Talent Pool Regional Coordinator Clint Kelleher spotted Miriam swimming laps at the recreation centre and asked her if she had ever considered getting a job there. Now, after making her way through the Talent Pool program, she has just started her new job at Goldfields Oasis.

Since then, both girls have obtained their Bronze Medallion, First Aid certificate and Pool Lifeguard licence and are now becoming swim teachers at Goldfield's Oasis Recreation Centre in Kalgoorlie.  

“Both girls are a fantastic example of the employment opportunities offered through the Talent Pool program. The biggest problem being faced now is how much they will be missed when they move on to employment at Oasis and not Talent Pool,” said Clint.

But that isn’t all the Talent Pool crew has been up to. In May, they assisted with the Goldfields Spirit Carnival at the Goldfields Oasis Recreation Centre, with 132 Year 5 and 6 students from six Goldfields primary schools attending.

The day was filled with fun, participation and inclusivity including crowd-pleasing events like the obstacle race, rescue tube relay, rope throw, and artistic swimming.

Fun aside, the carnivals also highlight the need for more education in regions such as the Goldfields with research showing that poor swimming skills contributed to 22 per cent of drowning deaths recorded in the Goldfields region over the past ten years.  

The Talent Pool team also had some great days at the pool with their Community Rescue Club (CRC) in early July, running classes for multiple schools including CAPS Kurrawang and East Kalgoorlie Primary School, as well as after school sessions attended by kids from the PCYC.

All the kids showed a huge improvement in swimming ability and survival skills in the CRC program, which has been running for over 18 months.

Royal Life Saving WA has shared a long and successful partnership with BHP, delivering a range of water safety and drowning prevention programs for at-risk communities throughout Western Australia.

This partnership allows Royal Life Saving to deliver targeted swimming, water safety and drowning prevention education throughout Port Hedland, Newman, Leinster, Kalgoorlie and Kambalda as well as the remote Aboriginal communities of Jigalong and Yandeyarra.

"This important partnership is one that is making a real difference in drowning prevention right across the state. BHP is proud to have played a small part in Royal Life Saving’s bigger story through delivering vital programs to regional and vulnerable communities, training lifesavers and creating safer aquatic places for all Western Australians,” said BHP Head of Corporate Affairs Meath Hammond.

Keen to learn more about our programs and partnership with BHP? Click the link below.