City of Newcastle looks to recruit new generation of professional of lifeguards

With beaches that attract over a million swimmers and sunseekers each year, the City of Newcastle is calling for high-school-aged trainee lifeguards to join its beach patrol team.

For the fourth year running, the Council is investing in upskilling Hunter surf lifesavers under its Trainee Lifeguard program.

Explaining that, as a coastal city experiencing a growth in population and visitors, it is vital for the council to continue to develop and grow its professional lifeguard team, City of Newcastle Executive Manager Community and Recreation, Lynn Duffy stated “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.

“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 the 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.

She advised “the traineeship has offered me new skills that I can transfer into my day-to-day life.

“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 today and close on Sunday 20th October, with successful trainees beginning the program on 23rd December 2024.

Click here to visit City of Newcastle’s Employment Opportunities webpage for more information.

Image (from left): City of Newcastle trainee lifeguards Blake Cook, Xavier Coates, Andie Widseth, Lily Forbes, and Zara Campbell.