NSW UPDATES
South Sydney
What a remarkable year it has been for our South Sydney trainees.
A big congratulations to our 2024 trainees, who have shown incredible commitment while juggling their HSC exams and moving into the final stage of their traineeship.
Our 2025 trainees have also had an exciting year, building new skills across different departments and showing consistent dedication and professionalism.
A special shout-out to Sebastian Arcibal, who impressively completed a two-year traineeship in under a year, an outstanding achievement!
We’d like to extend a warm welcome to our 2026 cohort, who have recently commenced their traineeship journey, with many already completing their swim teaching and pool lifeguard training. We wish them the very best of luck as they embark on this exciting journey ahead.
North Sydney
It’s been an incredible year for our North Sydney trainees.
A huge congratulations to our 2024 cohort, who are nearing the end of their traineeship. You’ve completed your HSC and shown outstanding dedication over the past two years. We’re so proud of what you’ve achieved and can’t wait to see what comes next.
Our 2025 cohort is now halfway through their program and continue to build confidence and skill across all departments. It’s been great to watch your progress this year.
We’re also excited to welcome our 2026 trainees across Lane Cove, Mosman, Willoughby and Chatswood. You’ve started strong with Learn to Swim and Pool Lifeguard training, and your enthusiasm has been wonderful to see.
Thank you all for your hard work, positivity and commitment. Keep it up, we’re excited for what next year will bring!
A huge thank you to our South Sydney trainees for their dedication and enthusiasm, keep up the great effort!
Camden
What a wonderful year it has been for our trainees in the Camden Region. We’ve made so many great memories, including welcoming our first official trainees and seeing everyone shine in their roles.
As we wrap up the year, a big congratulations to Taleah McKenzie and Claire Abilities, who have both completed their 760 practical training hours along with their studies. We’re also proud of the rest of the cohort, who continue to progress exceptionally well, great job, team!
We’d also like to extend a warm welcome to our new 2026 trainees at Mount Annan and Oran Park. You’ve started with enthusiasm and are already making strong progress in both lifeguarding and swim teaching.
Thank you all for making this journey smooth and enjoyable. Your effort and commitment are truly appreciated.
Dedicated Sites
A big thank you to our 2024 trainees for your commitment to swim teaching. Congratulations on your recent graduation, and we wish you the very best as you transition out of school.
Our 2025 cohort has also shown impressive growth and flexibility with the new program. Your adaptability and developing skills, especially over the last three months, have been outstanding.
We also welcome and congratulate our new 2026 trainees, who are already bringing strong communication, enthusiasm, and commitment to their training. It’s exciting to see the energy you’re adding to our sites.
Thank you to all trainees for your hard work and contribution. You are an essential part of our team, and we look forward to supporting your continued growth.
Newcastle
A big congratulations to our 2024 SBATs, who are nearing the end of their journey or about to finish. The growth and maturity shown by this group has been incredible, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for each of you.
Our 2025 cohort was the first group I supported from interviews through to selection, and I’m so proud of the dedicated and capable young people they’ve become. They’ve excelled across all areas of pool operations, from lifeguarding and learn to swim, to kiosk, waterslide attendant and customer service, and both the management team and I are incredibly proud.
In September, we welcomed seven new SBATs, who have stepped into their roles with great maturity and enthusiasm. We’re already impressed and can’t wait to see what they achieve.
Congratulations to Our NSW LEA School-Based Trainee of the Year:
Sebastian Arcibal – Hurstville Aquatic Centre
We are proud to celebrate Sebastian Arcibal as the NSW LEA School-Based Trainee of the Year. His warmth, character, and outstanding work ethic have made a lasting impression on everyone at Hurstville Aquatic Centre.
Sebastien stands out for his genuine kindness, calm and patient energy, and natural motivation. He creates a safe, uplifting environment for his students and demonstrates care, attentiveness, and professionalism beyond his years.
Throughout his traineeship, Sebastian has shown:
- Exceptional work ethic and reliability
- Professionalism and maturity in every task
- A willingness to learn, grow, and support his team
- Appreciation for the LEA & BlueFit team, often bringing thoughtful gestures to check-ins
He also achieved an extraordinary milestone by completing his SBAT in under 12 months, with:
- 760 working hours
- All Certificate III units completed
- All workplace competencies signed off
Sebastian embodies dedication, gratitude, kindness, and excellence. Few trainees have impressed, inspired, and made us prouder than he has. We wish we could have a Sebastian at every site!