Secondary students train for career in aquatic industry

Swimming New Zealand (SNZ) and WaterSafe Auckland (WAI) have come together to provide training and possible careers for Year 12 and 13 secondary students in the aquatic industry.

Mark Cornaga, Aquatic Educator from WAI has been steadily working behind the scenes alongside many organisations to ensure that aquatics can be seen as a career.

Throughout term two this year, the students from five schools in the Auckland region have attended SNZ‘s Assistant Swim Teacher Award course or are completing the Pool Lifeguard Practicing Certificate through their schools' Gateway programme.

The students are from Mt. Albert Grammar School, Kelston Boys High School, Long Bay College, Macleans College and Westlake Girls High School.

It wasn’t only learning to teach swimming and water safety for these students. The Gateway students also completed first aid training, worked towards completing the NZ Police swimming certificate and also had the chance to head out on the harbour on the Ted Ashby for the Coastguard Day Skipper and Boating Experience. Lucky for our two Education Advisors, Kay and Alannah were both invited out for an afternoon on the Ted Ashby in the winter sun.

“It was great to work with Kay from Swimming New Zealand on the new WaterSafe Aquatics Gateway pilot programme and ASTA course,” said Cornaga.

“She was able to pass on 28 plus years of knowledge and experience to the students and they enjoyed her fun and friendly delivery style. The course has set the students up for employment with swim schools throughout Auckland. The Term 3 course is already full!”

Head lifeguard at Olympic Pool, Shama said “I think this programme is absolutely wonderful for the school leavers and gives them a bit of direction. Keep up the good work and looking forward to seeing the second lot of kids next term.”

All of the students that attended the Assistant Swim Teacher Award course are now training alongside swim schools and are working hard to complete all course requirements.