Casual Beach Lifeguards - 2025/2026 Season

28 September 2025 to 26 April 2026

At Wollongong City Council, we continuously strive to create an Extraordinary Wollongong. We focus on the delivery of exceptional services, infrastructure and facilities for our community.

Wollongong is a great place to work, live and play! Together, our responsibility is to create an inclusive community where everyone is welcome, valued and belongs. Our strength is the diversity of our people.

We lead with courage, openness and curiosity and believe our employees are the key to our success. Learn more about us here.

Are you passionate about the beach, love helping others, and thrive in the great outdoors? We're on the lookout for enthusiastic and dependable lifeguards to be part of our vibrant team, patrolling 17 stunning beaches across our local government area.

Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, we have opportunities for lifeguards of all experience levels. What matters most is your enthusiasm, reliability, and dedication to keeping our beaches safe and accessible to all in a supportive team environment.

As a lifeguard, you'll be a key player in keeping our beaches safe and welcoming. Your role will include:

Proactive beach patrols - spotting and reducing risks before they become hazards.

Friendly, community-focused service - your positive attitude and communication skills will help create a safe and enjoyable beach experience for everyone.

Physical readiness - you'll need to be fit and capable of handling the physical demands of lifeguarding, including repetitive manual tasks.

Team spirit and adaptability - you'll take direction well, stay flexible, and bring a can-do attitude to every shift.

Being flexible and available to work across multiple locations, including weekends and evenings, with shifts between 6:00 am and 7:00 pm, Monday to Sunday.

If you're ready to dive into a rewarding role that combines purpose, teamwork, and the beauty of the coast, we'd love to hear from you!

Find out more about what we do here: Beaches | City of Wollongong (nsw.gov.au)

What's on offer?​

We're topping up our casual pool and looking for flexible individuals available to work on an ad hoc basis to help cover staff leave and unexpected absences.

Role

Level 2 - Certificate 3 Ocean Lifeguard

Level 1 - Certificate 2 Ocean Lifeguard

Required Certification

Certificate III in Public Safety (Aquatic Search & Rescue)

Certificate II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue)

Under Part 2, Section 6 of the Child Protection (Working With Children) Act 2012, this position has been designated as requiring a paid NSW Working With Children Check.

Salary

Level 1 - Certificate 2 Ocean Lifeguard - These positions start from $38 per hour (plus 25% casual loading if applicable)

Level 2 - Certificate 3 Ocean Lifeguard - These positions start from $40 per hour (plus 25% casual loading if applicable)

How you'll make a difference:

As a lifeguard, you'll be more than just a watchful eye-you'll be a beachside leader, keeping our coastline safe, welcoming, and full of positive energy. Your day will involve keeping our beaches safe through vigilant patrols and quick responses to incidents, delivering engaging Surf Education sessions to help beachgoers stay confident in the water, and managing the daily operations of your assigned beach, including equipment and facilities. You'll be the go-to person for beachgoers, offering friendly advice and top-tier customer service, while staying ready to respond with calm, capable first aid and emergency care when needed. Champion child protection and workplace safety, following all protocols to create a secure space for everyone. You'll complete operational reports to maintain high safety and service standards.

About you:

• You are a confident communicator with a natural flair for exceptional customer service
• You are physically fit, energetic, and ready to meet the demands of lifeguarding
• You are a proactive self-starter with a positive attitude and strong team spirit
• You are practical, adaptable, and committed to a safety-focused culture
• You remain calm under pressure and quick to respond when needed
• You have a genuine commitment to living out Council's values: Respect, Integrity, OneTeam, Sustainability, and Courage-both in and out of the water.

Level 2 - Certificate 3 Ocean Lifeguard:
This position is responsible for maintaining a safe environment for all beach goers. To be successful for this position you will:

• Have previous lifeguarding experience
• Hold a Certificate III in Public Safety (Aquatic Search and Rescue) (PUA30322)
• Hold a current First Aid Statement of Attainment (HLTAID011)
• Hold a current Provide Advanced Resuscitation and Oxygen Therapy (HLTAID015)
• Current NSW Paid Working with Children Check

These positions start from $40 per hour (plus 25% casual loading if applicable).

Level 1 - Certificate 2 Ocean Lifeguard:
This is an entry level position for inexperienced lifeguards who wish to develop their skills and progress through the lifeguard service. To be successful for this position you will:

• Have a foundational knowledge and understanding of beach operations
• Hold a Certificate II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue) (PUA20119)
• Hold a current First Aid Statement of Attainment (HLTAID011)
• Hold a current Provide Advanced Resuscitation and Oxygen Therapy (HLTAID015)
• Current NSW Paid Working with Children Check

These positions start from $38 per hour (plus 25% casual loading if applicable)

Why you'll love working at Wollongong City Council!

We're values based, and purpose-led
We care about our community and want to create an extraordinary Wollongong, guided by our values of Courage, Integrity, Respect, Sustainable and One Team.

Make a difference in your community
You'll be part of a team that makes a positive impact through the services they provide, the infrastructure they build and the community they create.

Be your authentic self
Our strength is the diversity of our people. Council is an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, valued and belongs.

Create local and industry connections
As part of a large and complex Council in a major city, you'll establish networks with a range of Local Government Industry peers, bodies, associations and organisations.

Work-life balance that Works for You

Work-life balance

Our casual positions offer the flexibility you need to balance work with study, family, hobbies, or personal commitments.
✅ Enjoy a supportive and inclusive team culture
✅ Gain valuable experience without sacrificing your lifestyle

Whether you're building your career or simply looking for meaningful work with flexibility, we're here to support your journey

Health, safety, and wellbeing
We prioritise a safe workplace for everyone, every day, everywhere. Our wellbeing programs support mental, physical and social wellbeing of our people to be at their best and include an Employee Assistance Program, skin and hearing checks, vaccinations, and discounted gym memberships

Participate and engage in meaningful work, and contribute to our extraordinary community, where together we make a difference.

For more information, click on 'Apply' to be redirected to Wollongong City Council's job vacancy page.

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 3 August 2025.

We anticipate that the fitness and skill assessment and interviews will take place on the Friday 8 August 2025.

We invite everyone to apply no matter your identity, you'll be welcome. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), people with disability and veterans.

Wollongong Council adheres to the principles of a child safe organisation and is committed to the care and protection of all children and young people in the community.

Applicants are required to undergo a rigorous employment screening process which will include Reference, Identity and Medical History Checks, and may also include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and Working with Children Check. Employment is subject to clearance of all these checks.