Somali youths land gigs at Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre

These new lifeguards are making a big splash at Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre, thanks an initiative by Life Saving Victoria.

Hanad Mohamed and Abdisamad Mohammad are now working at the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre after graduating from the Life Saving Victoria initiative.

A trio of freshly certified lifeguards are ready to make a big splash at the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre after graduating from a Life Saving Victoria initiative.

The three Somali youth trained for nearly two years to become lifeguards as part of a program to increase diversity in the aquatic industry and educate multicultural communities about the importance of water safety.

They have all now being given jobs at the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre to do pool life guarding and swim teaching.

Abdisamad (on the far left), Hanad (standing with blue collar) and Saeed (kneeling with blue collar) have all been employed at the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre. Picture: Jay Town

New lifeguard Saeed Mohammad, 30, from Parkville, has now been working and training at the centre for seven months and said he was inspired to join the program to help his community.

“I wanted to be a role model for my community and for my son and daughter, all of my family,” he said.

“My community doesn’t do a lot of swimming, they don’t know how to swim.

“We live in a continent where water is everywhere now, it’s not like back home. So it’s important for them to know how to swim.”

Mr Mohammad, who works as an electrician during the week, said he has always loved to swim so joining the program was an easy decision.

“Swimming is number one for me, it’s the best exercise,” he said.

“I feel like a very young man after I swim.”

The Life Saving Victoria initiative aimed to promote inclusivity and multicultural awareness.

He has also helped started a free program at the aquatic centre to teach Somali teens how to swim.

“It helps to combat them sitting around and doing nothing,” he said.

“I wanted to help the kids, a lot of people in my community are drowning because they don’t know how to swim.”

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The three were part of a larger group of 15 Somali youth who graduated the program and have been employed at other aquatic centre’s around Melbourne.

Life Saving Victoria’s multicultural projects manager David Holland said the biggest challenge for the young lifeguards during the program was overcoming their limited swimming skills.

“Most needed to do a lot of work on their swimming, and that took time,” he said.

“Yet they stuck with it and now all are in positions to not only protect the public around water but to also become positive role models for all youth.”