Melbourne student - Any council pools sponsor Pool Lifeguard certification or reimburse training costs?

Hi everyone,

I'm an international student living in Melbourne (CBD), and I'm looking into becoming a lifeguard.

I recently realised that, unlike where I'm from, I need to obtain a Pool Lifeguard certification before I'm even eligible to apply for most jobs. Back in India, I was a competitive swimmer for about 7 years and competed at the national level. I stopped swimming around 2 years ago, but I'm still very confident that passing the physical assessment wouldn't be an issue.

The main hurdle for me is the cost. From what I've found, the certification is around AUD $350+, which is quite a lot as a student.

I was wondering if any council pools or aquatic centres:

• Sponsor or subsidise the cost of the certification.
• Offer paid training while you're completing the qualification.
• Reimburse the certification cost if you're hired afterwards.
• Have any programs specifically for students or new lifeguards.

If sponsorships or exemptions aren't really a thing, how confident can I be about finding a lifeguard job after getting certified? Is there generally good demand for qualified lifeguards in Melbourne, or is it still quite competitive?

Finally, are there any councils, aquatic centres, organisations, or people you would recommend contacting about this? I'd really appreciate any advice from people who've been through the process or know of places that help students get started.

Thanks in advance!