With beaches that attract over a million swimmers and sunseekers each year, City of Newcastle Council is calling for high-school-aged trainee lifeguards to get on board.
For the fourth year running, the Council is investing in upskilling Hunter Surf Lifesavers under its Trainee Lifeguard program.
Executive Manager Community and Recreation, Lynn Duffy said as a coastal city experiencing a growth in population and visitors, it is vital Council continues to develop and grow its professional lifeguard team.
“Our Trainee Lifeguard Program offers successful applicants an opportunity to shadow City of Newcastle lifeguards who support the community so they can safely enjoy the city’s beaches and ocean baths,” Ms Duffy said.
“The program involves weekday shifts of up to 24 hours per week throughout the summer school holidays and offers invaluable mentorship from our professional lifeguards.”
Since Council launched the program in 2021, the traineeship has helped kickstart the careers of 13 lifeguards, who are now regularly patrolling local beaches during the summer months.
Zara Campbell, who undertook the traineeship in the 2023/24 season and will shortly commence work as a City of Newcastle casual lifeguard this summer, said the program provided her with a breadth of knowledge and insight into what it takes to be a beach lifeguard.
“The traineeship has offered me new skills that I can transfer into my day-to-day life,” Ms Campbell said.
“The work environment was so welcoming which allowed me to make the most of the experience alongside a great team of lifeguards. I am extremely excited to commence as a causal lifeguard and use these new skills I have gained,”
“I highly recommend the traineeship to high school students who are interested in becoming a professional lifeguard. The learning experience was fun, it is a great summer job, and you work alongside great individuals who make a huge contribution towards keeping Newcastle’s beaches safe.”
Applications open Wednesday 2 October and close on Sunday 20 October, with successful trainees beginning the program on 23 December 2024.
Visit City of Newcastle’s Employment Opportunities webpage for more information.
