LIFESAVING is more commonly associated with Bondi than the Pilbara, but with northern towns like Port Hedland expanding thanks to the surging mining industry, so are the needs of the community.
Along with that need come the diverse opportunities outside of mining, thanks to corporate sponsorship in the areas the mining companies are operating.
An example of this is the four indigenous lifeguards that made up the first regional team to compete in Royal Life Saving Society of WA’s Pool Lifeguard Challenge last week.
The team was made up of graduates from the YMCA Swim for Life program, the principal partner of which is BHP Billiton, the same company that sponsors the RLSSWA challenge, and they competed against metropolitan teams.
The program offers lifeguard training and employment opportunities to indigenous youth in the Pilbara town and has employed 13 lifeguards since starting in 2008.
The $70,000 BHP contributed to the program since its support commenced in 2009 might be a penny in the company’s bucket, but it has clearly made an impact on the participants and expanded opportunities for Port Hedland youth.