Young multi-cultural lifeguards are on patrol at Greater Dandenong pools, building trust and cutting confusion.
The YMCA and Life Saving Victoria (LSV) joined forces with support from City of Greater Dandenong to train and employ the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community crew.
The CALD Aquatics Pathway Program recently had its second intake, of four 17-year-olds.
Afghans Murtaza Naseri and Sarah Qumbri, Hellbert Pemba from Malawi and Sudanese-born Nya Gach Loch joined the YMCA as volunteers with a view to gaining employment.
The program’s pilot phase involved five participants from African, Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds successfully completing training over two months.
The YMCA now employs 21-year-old Syed Moiz Mubashir from Pakistan, 31-year-old Armenian Greg Ashnaklian, Asif Mehri, 20, from Afghanistan, Sri Lankan 27-year-old Baki Dayanadan and 20-year-old Rabia ‘Emma’ Qumbri.
Emma came to Australia with her family in 2010. She said the program provided her with a chance to progress and make a career in the aquatics and recreation industry.
“My two younger sisters became surf lifesavers and I became interested in doing lifeguarding through them,” she said.
“I joined the program and completed the training and now work at Dandenong Oasis and have also done shifts at Noble Park (Aquatic Centre) and Casey ARC.”
Emma is Muslim and wears a hijab, and said she felt she was approachable to Muslim women and others who were shy to ask questions due to cultural barriers.
“It’s really good. Other women and Muslims sometimes feel more comfortable talking to me than they would someone else and they often ask me questions,” she said.
“I am able to help and that is very satisfying.
“I like talking to people and helping them and that is a big part of this job.”
Emma added that her family and community were very proud and that the position was one where she felt equal to everyone.
Dandenong Oasis manager Trudy Micallef said the program’s aim was to have participants “pool-deck ready” when jobs came up.
“Cultural and language differences can sometimes mean there is confusion and even a lack of trust between pool users and lifeguards,” she said.
“Having access to lifeguards from the same background with the ability to explain and communicate in the same language is a huge positive in these situations.”
LSV multicultural projects manager David Holland said program candidates were identified in classrooms, through local communities and even on the beach.
“They are typically people who show an interest in aquatics and aspire to be role models or leaders within their communities,” he said.
“The program components are designed to provide training according to each participant’s needs, with each becoming proficient in every area and then practicing their skills through volunteering before entering the workforce.
“It encourages inclusion and recognises diversity.
“The results in the City of Greater Dandenong have been outstanding and we are very keen to extend this to other CALD and multi-cultural communities.”
