PARC’s swim-pressive teacher recruitment program delivers huge results
Published on 23 May 2022
Peninsula Leisure’s innovative Swim Teacher Active Recruitment (STAR) Program is making a splash – getting more children into swimming lessons and more Frankston locals into jobs.
Recent graduate, Gemma Gundry, said: “With the STAR program I was able to achieve my qualification with encouragement, motivation and support from all of the STAR Program and Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre (PARC) Swim team. Great communication and advice made my learning experience go as smoothly as possible.”
Gemma loves her new job as a swim teacher, adding: “For me the best thing is the satisfaction of building a swimmers’ confidence, seeing them become comfortable and confident in the water is a very rewarding experience. Helping others discover the joy of swimming means every day at work is different.”
Fellow graduate, Seth Mallinson, has gained a sense of pride from teaching an important life skill and being responsible for kids in the water.
Seth added: “There’s an amazing sense of community at PARC. The PARC Swim team has been unbelievably welcoming and willing to help me learn.”
The new PARC Swim STAR Program was initiated to combat an industry-wide swim teacher shortage by addressing two key barriers – the upfront costs involved in training and the time it takes to undergo the training without income.
Peninsula Leisure CEO Katherine Thom said that the aquatic industry is experiencing a swim teacher shortage, with COVID closures forcing many teachers to seek more secure work over the last two years.
Ms Thom said: “We are in the midst of a national swim teacher shortage. It’s hard to become a swim teacher – you need to spend money to get qualified and then do in-water training hours without income before you can land a job.
“With so few people entering the profession of swim teaching, we knew we had to reimagine our recruitment process in order to attract more quality teachers to PARC.”
As part of the Program, participants receive the cost of their qualifications covered (usually around $600), receive payment for their in-water training hours and become part of the PARC Swim community, gaining invaluable team support and mentoring throughout the journey. At the end of the program, participants are also offered employment as a PARC Swim Teacher.
Ms Thom said the Program had been so successful that PARC no longer has a waiting list for swimming classes.
“Late last year we had 497 weekly swimming classes with 1,715 students and now thanks to the Program, we have 553 classes with 2,109 students and all STAR Program teachers employed.
“And now in Term 2 this year, we have an additional 23 newly qualified STAR teachers and will again increase the number of classes and availability for PARC swim students,” she said.
Ms Thom noted that in January 2022, there were over 700 people on the waiting list for PARC Swim from six-months-old to adults.
“There’s now no waiting list and PARC Swim is taking new members every day. The STAR Program is providing major benefits for both water safety and employment in Frankston City.”
Ms Thom added: “PARC Swim’s vision is that every child in Frankston can swim. Our STAR Program means we can train more swim teachers, more quickly and they can start earning income sooner. In turn, it means we can welcome more of the community into the program and offer them greater choice in class times and days. It’s a win-win-win,” she said.
The PARC Swim STAR Program is open to the entire Frankston community and suits all walks of life – retirees looking to feel connected with the community, mums or dads looking for hours that suit their busy lifestyles, people who are studying and even those still at school with flexible hours on offer.
North West Ward Cr Kris Bolam said the STAR program highlights Peninsula Leisure’s commitment to supporting and engaging with the local community, adding: “The program offers great employment opportunities for Frankston City.”
Cr Bolam said the program is free of charge and applications are currently open. To apply, please visit PARC’s website and complete an expression of interest form: https://parcfrankston.com.au/star-program/
Peninsula Leisure Pty Ltd is a subsidiary company wholly owned by Frankston City Council and is charged with the management of Council’s two aquatic facilities, Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre and Pines Forest Aquatic Centre.
It is committed to providing quality sports, recreation and leisure products and services with a focus on community engagement and innovation alongside a reputation for delivering exceptional service.