Waverley Council sacks beach lifeguards over their COVID-19 vaccine status

Waverley Council is reported to have terminated the employment of members of its professional lifeguarding team as a result of their being unvaccinated for COVID-19.

Reports on the sacking of unvaccinated lifeguards, who work across the Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte beaches in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs have emerged on social media, with former Bondi Rescue lifeguard Jesse Polock advising that the Council was “sacking full-time lifeguards” for not getting the COVID-19 jab.

When asked by The Daily Telegraph if any lifeguards have had their employment terminated over the Covid-19 vaccine mandate, a Waverley Council spokesperson advised “like many other councils in Sydney, vaccination is mandatory for all staff.

“Our lifeguards are our first responders, and their health and safety, and that of the community, is paramount to us.”

The allegations come as other NSW Government employers, including NSW Education, have dropped vaccine mandates for staff under certain conditions.

NSW Health confirmed that implementing vaccine mandates is not required by local government and that they should exercise discretion based on risk, with a spokesperson advising “there is no requirement under a public health order for councils to implement vaccine mandates for their staff, unless they are aged care or disability workers and fall within the public health order.

“Councils should consider their occupational work health and safety obligations in deciding whether to require staff to be vaccinated.

“This is in line with the NSW Government’s indication in April 2022 that requirements for COVID-19 vaccination of workers would be moving from public health orders to a workplace health and safety risk assessment model.”

Waverley Council is currently advertising for casual lifeguards. 

Click here to view the listing on the Australasian Leisure Management jobs page.