The Y is currently recruiting passionate, active people of all ages to undertake 1- 5 month placements working as Lifeguards and Pool Coordinators in our Remote Pools Project in Central Australia.

Living and working in one of the remote communities of Kintore, Areyonga and Santa Teresa, your work will contribute to:

• Improving overall community health and wellbeing by ensuring safe access to community swimming pools
• Increase water safety skills for children
• Increased rates of physical activity

Why you might consider this opportunity

• to be involved in meaningful work
• to experience different cultures, languages, challenges and perspectives
• to learn and grow
• to share knowledge and skills where they are needed

Not qualified? Not a problem, please reach out to explore training opportunities.

Position Summary

Join a team of like-minded volunteers to help deliver our goal of promoting health, safety and awareness around water. Swimming pools are a vital part of remote communities, providing fun and relief from the summer heat and a sense of togetherness and connection for everyone!

In your role as a pool lifeguard, you would be responsible for supervising the safe operation of the swimming pool and ensuring the safety of all swimmers and those within the pool facility. By facilitating this supervised space, you would be further promoting the wellbeing of the community by providing them with a positive and engaging resource that encourages physical activity and the opportunity to cool down in the summer heat.

Volunteers will be placed in a community for a short term period, ranging from a 1 – 5 month period with a small team of other Volunteers. These teams may be placed within a community share house accommodation depending on the community that you are placed within.

Supports for Volunteers

Housing & other conditions:

• A shared, fully furnished, air-conditioned house in community will be provided for volunteers for the duration of their stay in community. All utilities are provided, and purchase of safe drinking water will also be provided
• Wi-Fi will be provided at the Volunteer houses and at the Pool Office.
• A small weekly stipend will be provided to assist volunteers with purchase of groceries

Training:

• Cultural awareness training will be provided to support you in developing your understanding of Indigenous culture and life in remote communities.
• YMCA NT will pay for volunteers to complete some external training from Royal Life Saving courses. Some of these courses may include First Aid, Bronze Medallion, Pool Lifeguard, Pool Operators Course.
• Internal training and induction provided to volunteers in local community.

Volunteers to provide:

• Volunteers require their own 4WD vehicles as the roads are a combination of bitumen and dirt. If you don’t have a 4WD, we can work with you to make alternative arrangements.

Location

Based in the beautiful Central Australian outback and located within the MacDonnell Regional Council’s jurisdiction, are 3 unique remote communities, Walungurru (Kintore), Utju (Areyonga) and Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa). Each community varies in distance from Alice Springs with the furthest being Walungurru (Kintore) at 530km West, Utju (Areyonga) at 220km South West and Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) at 80km Southeast.

The Remote Pools Operations Manager (based in Alice Springs) will be in close contact with the Pool Coordinator and Pool Lifeguards, providing thorough training and induction and providing ongoing support, coaching and mentoring. The Operations Manager will also visit each community regularly, checking in with teams and assist with any problem solving.

Position Description

Pool Lifeguards at YMCA facilities take on a much greater responsibility than simply supervising water space. As well as identifying potential risk factors and taking steps to reduce those risks, pool lifeguards will act as positive role models for people using the pools.

Position Requirements

• Hold a valid Working with Children Card (NT Ochre card)
• Complete YMCA’s Safeguarding Children and Young People training online
• Obtain a satisfactory Criminal History check
• Current Pool Lifeguard Certificate (this training can be provided to you)
• Current First Aid Certificate (this training can be provided to you)
• High regard for workplace health and safety practices

Position Responsibilities

• Declare anything you become aware of through the course of your engagement with YMCA which a reasonable person would consider could impede your suitability to have contact with children and young people
• Act as an extended guardian towards children and young people where you have interactions and at all times take reasonable steps to prevent abuse and neglect
• Adhere to all policies and procedures relating to safeguarding children and young people and the code of conduct

• Update your details whenever they change, with the relevant department administering the working with children check or equivalent in your state/ territory of residence, as required by applicable laws
• Complete WWCC prior to commencement and maintain currency throughout employment

• Complete a National/International Police Check prior to employment recruitment and at the discretion of the YMCA

• Maintain a working knowledge of policies and procedures relating to safeguarding children and young people

• Working closely with remote community members, duty managers and other staff members to ensure a safe environment
• Build strong working relationships and communicate with all YMCA and volunteer staff, YMCA customers and other external parties on a regular basis

Key Responsibilities

• Provide supervision of aquatic facilities to ensure safety of all facility users
• Provide appropriate response in an emergency situation as per the Emergency Management Plan
• In the event of injury or illness provide appropriate first aid
• Conduct rostered pool tests and pool maintenance to ensure full compliance with Health Department Regulations
• Maintain concentrated observation of pools and patrons to anticipate and respond to any emergency
• Ensure facility rules are being obeyed, whilst educating facility users about safe aquatic practices
• Respond to customers concerns or needs appropriately
• Ensure patrons are protected from unruly behaviour and dangerous actions
• Undertake regular cleaning and tidying duties to ensure the maintenance of a safe environment for staff and patrons
• Conduct cleaning and safe control measures for:
  • Change rooms
  • Lost property
  • Public use equipment
• Complete all necessary opening, daily and closing checklists to a high standard
• Advise Operations Manager of requirements for:
  • Re-stocking of first aid, cleaning, chemical supplies
  • Troubleshooting, maintenance, breakdowns
• Follow guidelines as outlined in the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations (GSPO)

Selection Criteria

• Hold a valid Working with Children Card
• Must be 18 years or older
• Current Pool Lifeguard, desirable
• Current Bronze medallion, desirable
• Current First Aid, desirable
• Willingness to learn and work part of a team

For any queries, please don't hesitate to contact [email protected] using the subject line: Pool Lifeguards (Voluntary) - Kintore / Areyonga / Santa Teresa enquiry via EthicalJobs or call 0498 663 211.

The Y is offering the opportunity to assist successful candidates to obtain their Pool Lifeguard qualification if they don't yet possess this. Ask us how you can become qualified!