29 May 2025

Talent Pool inspires the next generation

Royal Life Saving WA is committed to creating meaningful opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth through initiatives like the Talent Pool Academy, which empowers young people across regional WA with training, mentorship, and employment in aquatic and recreation roles.

At the forefront of this work is Tim Turner, Senior Manager of Regional Development, who has been instrumental in building relationships and delivering real change in places like Port Hedland and the Pilbara. Tim shares his thoughts on this year’s theme and what it means in the context of the Talent Pool Academy.

“When I think about the theme for the 2025 National Reconciliation Week, “Bridging Now to Next” and the journey of the Talent Pool Academy, I ask myself what will be our legacy?

“How have my actions and the efforts underpinning the success of the Talent Pool Academy contributed to reconciliation in my community and across Western Australia.”

The Australian census has consistently reflected a national snapshot of disparity and disadvantage for our First Nation people’s compared to other Australians. There is profound difference across all social indices including health, housing, rates of incarceration, education, and employment. This is the “Now” we are facing.

Where to next?

The success of the Royal Life Saving WA Talent Pool Academy across regional Western Australia successfully challenges a national narrative of disparity and disadvantage with hope and aspiration.

The Talent Pool Academy offers direct employment through Royal Life Saving WA as Talent Pool Mentors providing support for wet and dry recreation activities across the community. This is providing first-time jobs to First Nations youth across regional Western Australia. It has also created opportunities for other young people from a diversity of cultures and abilities to join the Talent Pool Academy.

Starting with a single program in Port Hedland in 2019, the Talent Pool Academy has expanded across the Pilbara, Goldfields, and Kimberley, employing over 100 young people and partnering with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO’s) such as the Wunan Foundation to strengthen community ties. In 2025, Talent Pool has launched a talent pipeline to help local governments keep regional pools open with qualified young professionals.

The success of the Talent Pool Academy shows what is possible when young people are given real opportunities. This is what our “Next” looks like; young leaders stepping up, strong partnerships being built, and communities growing stronger together.

Huge thank you to our community partners at BHP for their continued support of this program.

Read more about our aspirations for the future in our Reconciliation Action Plan.