Ararat Rural City Council is inviting juniors and adults to undertake a free lifeguarding course that will set them up to work at Council pools over summer.

Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison said the lifeguard course will be held in late November, with a first aid course starting next week.

People who sign up for the lifeguard course must have a current first aid certificate, and juniors need to be aged at least 16 to complete the course.

Dr Harrison said the Council is offering the course for free with the expectation that people who complete it will be available to work at Council pools over summer.

The Council manages four pools – the indoor heated pool at the Ararat Fitness Centre, the Ararat Outdoor Olympic Pool, the Willaura Outdoor Memorial Pool, and the Peter O’Rorke Lake Bolac Memorial Pool.

“This is a great opportunity for local young people to get a qualification that will allow them to work at swimming pools across the municipality,” Dr Harrison said.

“We encourage anyone who is interested – including adults – to sign up for the courses.”

The first aid course will be held on 7 and 21 November from 4.30pm to 7.30pm both days at Pinnacle in Ararat. The lifeguarding course will be held on the 23 and 24 November, from 9am to 4pm both days at the Ararat Fitness Centre.

For more information and to register for the courses, please phone Council’s Janeen Williamson on 5355 0202 or email [email protected].