Volunteer

Share your skills and knowledge in aquatics

There is never a dull moment working at a remote community pool. 

Life as a volunteer with the Remote Pools Project is an extraordinary adventure. Every day presents many opportunities for cross-cultural learning.  

Living and working in a remote community means adapting to a slower pace and being immersed in culturally diverse, local community life.

"The Remote Pools Project gave me an invaluable experience to be enriched by local Arrernte culture, building connections that allowed me to share my passion for water safety through community empowerment. For years to come, I will draw on the knowledge, understanding and memories from my time in the Ltyentye Apurte community"

- Tammy, volunteer swim teacher, 2022/23 season

Your role as a volunteer

There are various roles available for volunteers in community that incorporate a range of duties and responsibilities. These roles include pool lifeguards, swim teachers and pool operations.

The role of our diverse staff and volunteer teams based in communities involves:

• Safely operate and manage the swimming pool
• Deliver swimming and water safety education programs
• Deliver health promotion activities
• Provide lifeguard supervision during the pool’s opening hours
• Be guided and mentored by local community members on local language and culture
• Provide coaching and mentoring to local people training as lifeguards or swim teachers

A once in a lifetime experience

This is an exceptional and culturally enriching opportunity to live and work alongside local First Nations peoples in a remote community of the Central Australian desert, the Tanami Desert or the Roper Gulf.

Aquatics professionals have the opportunity to join a volunteer program immersed in local community life, respectfully learning about ancient culture and language. 

The ancient grandeur of the Central Australian landscape is an incredible backdrop for the volunteer experience in remote communities. Two days off per week provides an ideal opportunity for exploring the local walking trails and waterholes of the majestic MacDonnell Ranges National Park and world-renowned Larapinta Trail. 

In the Roper Gulf, be immersed in local community life, try your hand at Barramundi fishing on the Big Rivers, as well as plenty of camping opportunities, bird watching and crocodile spotting!

Accommodation and living expenses

Volunteers will be provided with basic, fully-furnished accommodation, as well as free wifi and a weekly reimbursement of up to $80 for groceries, to off-set the higher cost of food in community.

For those volunteers without a personal vehicle, a shared vehicle is available at each community for use by the pool teams.

Volunteers will receive cross-cultural training and support prior to and during volunteer placements.

If you'd like more information before applying, please get in touch via the form below.

At the Y, we are committed to empowering all Children and Young People to feel safe and be safe, at the Y, in their families and in their communities.

As such, we ensure that all of our candidates are appropriately screened (including national crime checks) to make sure that the right people are in the right roles.

Learn more about our screening processes and view our Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy.