On 31 July, Lifeguard Appreciation Day, we celebrate the dedicated people who help keep our community safe in and around the water.

Every time you visit one of our City of Sydney pools, there’s a team working behind the scenes, bringing skill, focus and professionalism to their role each day.

While many people see lifeguards as friendly faces on pool deck, their role requires much more than supervision. Lifeguards help prevent incidents, respond in emergencies and create welcoming spaces where people of all ages can enjoy the water safely.

This year we spoke with five of our lifeguards - Julia, Klaudia, Mitch, Bianca and Caitlin - about what drew them to the role, what keeps them coming back, and the advice they’d give the community.

Many of our lifeguards were drawn to the role through their own love of swimming.

Julia, a Duty Manager and Lifeguard at Victoria Park Pool, was a regular swimmer before joining the team. “I started coming to Victoria Park Pool almost every day before and after my university classes,” she recalls. “One of the lifeguards noticed me as a regular and asked if I wanted a job.”

A competitive swimming background made lifeguarding a natural fit for Duty Manager and lifeguard Klaudia, who works at both Cook + Phillip Park Pool and Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre:

I’ve always loved being around water. I was a competitive swimmer for many years, so becoming a lifeguard felt like a natural way to stay connected to the aquatic industry, while helping keep people safe.

At Prince Alfred Park Pool, it was a local connection and swimming background that drew Mitch to the role. “I live down the road from the pool and always went there as a kid. I was also a swimmer in high school, so it always interested me because my swimming background suited the role.”

For Bianca, a lifeguard at Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, the role was a natural fit after growing up around swimming, beaches and sport: “I grew up swimming and going to the beach my whole life with my family. I also did dance and lots of sport, so fitness and leisure was always a part of my life. Being a lifeguard just sort of made sense to me.”

At Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre, lifeguard and swim teacher Caitlin found her way to the role through the same love of water, and has stayed for the impact she can have:

When kids make remarks about a ‘lady lifeguard',’ it makes me proud. Lifeguarding has traditionally been a male-dominated field, so it’s great to be a part of that change.

Once on the job, it’s the people they meet who make it so rewarding.

Julia enjoys getting to know the familiar faces she sees every day:

I love getting to know the regulars. There are some people who come in every single day to enjoy their swim and that always makes my day.

It’s the variety of the role that Klaudia values most. “No two days are the same. I enjoy interacting with different people every day, supporting my team, and knowing that the work we do helps create a safe and welcoming space for everyone.”

Mitch enjoys connecting with patrons and helping make each visit a great experience:

Being the face of the pool every time I lifeguard is what I’m most proud of, as I try to make every patron’s visit an enjoyable one so they come back next time.

Bianca’s favourite part of the role is spending time with children and families. “I love interacting with the kids and families and making sure everyone is having a good time. It’s also great when customers let us know they’re enjoying their experience here.”

Like any job, lifeguarding comes with its challenges. Remaining focused over a shift and being prepared to respond quickly in an emergency requires ongoing practice, training and commitment.

That’s why lifeguards undertake regular training throughout the year, including quarterly assessments and skills refreshers. This ongoing training helps ensure they are ready to respond when needed and gives them the confidence to manage a wide range of situations.

Caitlin says the training provides valuable preparation for real-life situations:

The rare times that I have performed a rescue successfully, it's knowing that years of repetitive training can actually be used to keep people safe because it becomes muscle memory.

For Julia, the role has reinforced the importance of staying alert and adaptable on every shift, skills she carries into her work as a Duty Manager.

Communication is one of the biggest lessons Mitch has gained from the role. “You’re interacting with different people every shift. It helps when meeting new people and builds confidence.”

Teamwork and customer service are skills Bianca has developed on the job. “Working well within a team, taking on feedback and meeting new people has helped me become more confident and come out of my shell.”

For Klaudia, learning to stay calm under pressure has proved invaluable:

Lifeguarding has taught me to assess situations quickly, communicate clearly and make decisions confidently, which is useful both at work and in everyday life.

Caitlin has found that lifeguarding has strengthened her understanding of risk management, a skill she uses in her Primary Education studies and in her volunteer work as a Welfare Officer at university.

All five lifeguards speak proudly about the impact they can have on the community and when it comes to water safety, each has a simple but important message.

For parents and carers, Klaudia’s message is clear - active supervision is crucial:

Always supervise children around water, even if they can swim. It only takes a few seconds for an accident to happen.

Julia encourages swimmers to be realistic about their abilities. "If you're a weaker swimmer, maybe stick to the shallow end more. We often get people who swim half a length and then head back, and that's perfectly fine."

Mitch adds: "If you're ever in doubt about your swimming ability, let the lifeguard know. We can give advice and are always happy to help."

Learning to swim, Bianca believes, is one of the best ways people can improve their confidence and safety in the water:

I’d encourage anyone who isn’t comfortable in the water to enrol in our Learn to Swim program. It’s a great way to build skills and confidence around water, whether you’re a child or an adult.

Caitlin’s advice is simple: learn essential survival skills. “Learn how to float on your back and tread water.”

For Klaudia, these everyday interactions are part of a much bigger picture.

“Being a lifeguard is about more than watching the pool. It's about helping keep people safe, supporting the community and giving people the confidence to enjoy the water. Knowing I can make a real difference is what makes the role so rewarding.”

This Lifeguard Appreciation Day, we thank Julia, Caitlin, Klaudia, Mitch, Bianca and the entire lifeguard team across our aquatic centres. Their dedication, professionalism and commitment help ensure our pools remain safe, welcoming and enjoyable places for the whole community.

*The lifeguards featured in these images were not performing lifeguard duties during the photoshoot. Pool supervision was maintained at all times by other qualified lifeguards on duty.