Pictures: Louise White
Shannon and Ethan were two of our first participants to take part in the Swim for Life program out of Kalgoorlie, and their extremely proud Case Coordinator Richelle Fish is thrilled to share the news they’ve both already been offered employment.
The current program is based on the previous award-winning Swim for Life program founded in 2008, which has now expanded and uses the bronze medallion as an engagement tool rather than being the main focus of the program.
The Department of Employment joined forces with YMCA WA to provide the new and improved program to young Aboriginals which is completely free of charge.
Ethan has just started working shifts at Goldfields Oasis Leisure Centre and is about to journey to Perth to undertake the Royal Life Saving Pool Lifeguard training. This training will see him become a fully operational life guard, and he will commence full-time work at Oasis in April.
Shannon will also be completing her lifeguard training very shortly and will commence work at Oasis as soon as her paperwork is processed. With this role holding a lot greater responsibility than her last job, Shannon is feeling both excited and scared about the new challenge.
“I got involved with Swim for Life because I was looking to get out of the job I’m in (KFC) and I wanted something more rewarding and long-term,” Shannon said.
“My plan for the future is to do my lifeguard training so I can work full-time and leave the job I’m in – I really want to work at the Oasis.”
Ethan and Shannon are two of the many young people who have benefited from the fantastic program that is now running out of Narrogin, Port Hedland and Kalgoorlie.