SA UPDATES
A Year of Firsts
What a year it has been for our 2025 SA cohort! Many trainees are in disbelief that the year is nearly over, and for some, it marks the start of life beyond school. This year will be remembered for several exciting firsts.
A New Chapter for Salisbury Aquatic Centre
This was the first full year for me as the SA consultant, and it has been an absolute pleasure watching this cohort grow into valued members of the BlueFit family.
2025 also marks the first year Salisbury Aquatic Centre took on trainees. Demi Hollowy and Taya Secker have laid a solid foundation for the future.
Traineeship Awards Milestones
This year, SA had entries in the SA Traineeship Awards for the first time, three in total! While they didn’t make the finals, all entries were well deserved. Congratulations to Alex, Ellie, and Taya for putting yourselves forward.
LEA Trainee of the Year, A First Win!
We also celebrated our first LEA Trainee of the Year award win with Ellie. It has been wonderful to watch her grow professionally and personally throughout the year.
Congratulations to Our SA LEA School-Based Trainee of the Year:
Elianna (Ellie) Kurtzer – Aquadome
We proudly recognise Elianna “Ellie” Kurtzer as the SA LEA School-Based Trainee of the Year. Her perseverance, capability, and leadership have set a new benchmark for excellence across Aquadome.
Going Above and Beyond
Ellie consistently demonstrates dedication and professionalism:
- Arrives early to every session
- Completes all pre-work with care and accuracy
- Pushes herself outside her comfort zone
- Supports her peers without being asked
She mastered SALT and Southern Education requirements quickly and became a natural mentor, especially when troubleshooting technical tasks, always patient and reassuring.
As a Swim Instructor
Ellie has a genuine connection to the Learn to Swim program. She brings joy and trust to her students and has been selected to lead Preschool Clownfish classes, running engaging and structured sessions full of heart. Her dedication was even featured in a recent LEA newsletter.
With her talent, Ellie is being developed for a Pool Deck Coordinator role, a natural next step for her skills and character.
As a Life Guard
Ellie has grown in communication and confidence. Her calm and respectful presence helps guide children effectively while providing clarity and professionalism to parents.
Ellie is not only highly capable but also deeply valued, respected, and admired by everyone at Aquadome.