Garie Beach

What are my chances of becoming a lifeguard at Bondi Beach?

Hi there! I'm interested in becoming a lifeguard or marine biologist....i would like to go to Australia for college (thinking about James cook University) And depending on how things go i might want to become a lifeguard instead of a marine biologist (maybe at bondi beach, maybe another beach) Im a very good swimmer; i've been swimming since i was two years old and i am on two swim teams (one for my school, one for a club team) Im a surfer, and i just got my scuba diving license. So i guess you could say im like a fish haha. Anyways, I had never really thought about becoming a lifeguard until the past couple weeks, since i started watching a show called Bondi Rescue on youtube (i dont live in australia; i live in California, but i really like australia it just seems like the perfect place for me; great beaches, great marine life/various animals, and here in california everyone is obsessed with looks and celebrities and what not...and it seems like people in australia dont really think like that; you can tell me if im wrong haha). I read that you have to have various types of certifications in order to become a lifeguard at bondi beach, or other beaches, which i could accomplish..but im only 15, and if i do get all the certifications and move to australia when im like 18 or 19, do you think i would have a good chance of becoming a lifeguard (at Bondi or any other beach)? Also, im a girl, which, i know only one girl is a lifeguard at bondi, so does that affect my chances as well? One more thing; if you have time, and youre in the mood to answer a lot of questions, i have a couple other questions about Australia; but you dont have to answer these if you dont want to... 1. do you generally refer to the fall season as 'fall' or 'autumn'? 2. About how long would it take someone to go from Townsville, Australia to Sydney, Australia...(hours, minutes, etc)? Please provide as much info as possible about the question/ any other info about australia. Thank you for reading this, and thanks so much to everyone who answers! :)

Public Comments

1. Your chances are slim to none - it is very competitive to become a lifeguard and most if not all the positions are voluntary (you do nto get paid). It is not on the migration list of work placements so you will not be able to get a visa to do this. It is also seasonal (which is why it is a volunteer position). Townsville is a little over 1000 miles from Sydney by air.
2. You may be able to become a volunteer surf lifesaver, but there are no paid positions, all our lifesavers are volunteers. Women are equally welcome to volunteer. http://www.surflifesaving.com.au/www/463/1003981/displayarticle/1001347.html We call it autumn. A flight from Townsville to Sydney is about 2 and 3/4 hours. Driving 2-3 days solid driving with meal breaks. To be eligible to migrate to Australia you need a skill in demand here, eg engineering, medical practitioner etc. See http://www.immi.gov.au for the info. You may be able to come for a working holiday up to 1 year. By the way, we have lifesavers at most of our beaches in cities around Australia. You don't have to be at Bondi, there are hundreds of other possibilites.
3. We do have payed life guards the local council pays them but most life guards are voluntary and most have grown up here in the Surf life saving club joining the nippers when young . The paid ones have very rigoures tests to achieve and many apply for the one position when it comes available. So it is possible but highly unlikely. Concentrate on being a marine biologist and if you have the chance join a surf life saving club as a sport and hobby.
4. Yes, James Cook Uni is the best place in Australia to Study Marine Biology because of the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Life guards in Australia are generally voluntary, so what you do is live in Sydney and join the Bondi Lifesavers association. Though you have to understand Bondi beach is where lifeguards originated, and has been copied in the rest of the world. If you are going to Australia to live, you need to study something in demand so that you can get a permanent residence visa. Science is one of those. Also, marine biologists get to travel around to many places in the world, and be exciting. Though there is also lab work if you don't like spending your days SCUBA diving in exotic locations around the world.
5. We call it Autumn and for the record, there is more then one female lifeguard working at Bondi.. just cause some aren't featured on the show doesn't mean they don't exist Anywaaay, once you get all your priorities and visas sorted out, i think you'll adapt really well to coastal Australia.
6. probably between zero and not big..why don't you start taking surfing lessons, this way you're even closer to the action and make the day while saving people before the life guards even get in the water:) http://www.yukiba.com/223-sydney-australia-oceania-trip.html