Afghan lifesaver getting SportsReady at the Oasis

Having started as a patrolling lifesaver at Edithvale Life Saving Club, before becoming a Pool Lifeguard at Casey Aquatic and Recreation Centre, Muntazir Mehdi Hussaini is now completing an AFL SportsReady traineeship at Dandenong Oasis.

AFL SportsReady is a not-for-profit company dedicated to helping young Australians develop careers through traineeships and educational opportunities. Blending education and employment enables trainees to gain a formal qualification and practical work experience, typically involving entry-level roles.

Mehdi says the traineeship is a great opportunity.

“I like to communicate with the different people, like the multicultural [people], to help them and to understand them,” he said.

The traineeship will allow Mehdi to develop his skills in aquatic recreation services and complete his Certificate III & IV in Sports and Recreation with the opportunity to pursue a career in the sports industry.

YMCA’s Dandenong Leisure Services Area Manager Alexandra Ash says that programs such as the SportsReady traineeship allow the centre to provide better services.

“We are really conscious that our staff reflects our diverse community, so it’s great to have Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) members like Medhi as part of our team,” Ms Ash said.

LSV Manager Multicultural David Holland has mentored Mehdi over the past three years and says he is a valuable part of the program.

“Mehdi is an enthusiastic young man who is very responsible, with genuine feelings for his community,” Mr Holland said. “The YMCA is a very important partner for LSV’s Multicultural Projects team.

“While LSV provides pool lifeguard training, we don’t have an outlet for our trainees to gain employment and YMCA provides these opportunities.

”I’m sure that Mehdi’s achievements will inspire other Afghan and CALD youth to follow in his footsteps.”
 

DATE:  July 2015
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Life Saving Victoria
IMAGE: Muntazir Mehdi, courtesy of Life Saving Victoria