<div class="block-wrapper" data-block-id="9a48e100-8f37-405d-93d6-bdc074c1087c"><h2>Chasing Summer: A Deep Dive on Swapping Snow for Swim Schools</h2></div> <div class="block-wrapper" data-block-id="5e6acf00-fb02-47bb-8c46-91c388593148"><p>As the weather finally starts warming up across the country, it’s the perfect time to talk about a program that literally brings the sunshine to BlueFit: <strong>The BlueFit Working Holiday Program</strong>.</p><p>We see our amazing Working Holiday team members on the pool deck every day, but what is the journey actually like? How do you go from a freezing winter in the UK to teaching Butterfly under the Aussie sun?</p><p>The latest wave of enthusiastic Working Holiday members land in Australia on Friday 4th September. There are 16 new expats including one from New Zealand and three from the USA. All will arrive in Sydney to complete their mandatory training, including PLG and FA, at our NSW sites. Following this training, six will carry on to Melbourne, moving into our BlueFit houses in Altona North and Essendon to commence permanent shifts.  We will bring you some snippets about their experience in the next edition of <em>Inspire</em>. </p></div> <div class="block-wrapper" data-block-id="747c1563-03a6-40eb-8c84-9ac807544f29"><hr /></div> <div class="block-wrapper" data-block-id="710ab51c-8200-4962-ad33-8c8feec2799b"><h2>The &quot;Why&quot;: TikToks, Travel, and Escaping the Cold - an Expat Spotlight on Tori</h2></div> <div class="block-wrapper" data-block-id="ca52ae1a-2c4f-4bc3-a4c3-5552bf73260a"><p>Let's hear from our Recruitment &amp; Talent Acquisition Officer, Tori Smith, because Tori has literally "done it all" at BlueFit. She came to Australia on the Working Holiday Program and from learning the ropes as a new swimming instructor to managing a school, she brings an incredible perspective to our Recruitment team.</p><p>Here is the how, the why, and the wonderful excitement of the BlueFit Working Holiday Program, straight from someone who lived it.</p><p><strong>The "Why": TikToks, Travel, and Escaping the Cold</strong></p><p>It’s no secret that Australia has great weather, but for someone coming from Scotland, it’s practically a different planet. For Tori, the decision to pack up her life and move across the globe came down to a mix of freezing temperatures, a fear of settling down too early, and the undeniable power of social media.</p><p><em>"The average temperature in Scotland for January is highs of 5 degrees, but usually falling short of that. In January, on average, we get about 1 hour of sunlight a day. I was also at that age where people around me were starting to get the ball and chain around their ankle and taking out these big mortgages, and I was not ready for that. I was highly influenced, as are we all nowadays, by TikToks - all these people living their best lives in the sun, sea, and sand."</em></p><p><strong>The "How": No Experience? No Worries!</strong></p><p>You might assume that to join a swim school working holiday, you need years of aquatic experience. Not necessarily! The application process is incredibly straightforward, and personality goes a long way.</p><p><em>"I was not a swim teacher back home and had no previous experience of swimming teaching until Australia. I saw a TikTok of a previous Working Holiday Member talking about the program and thought, 'Well, guess I will apply and see what happens.' I had an online call with a BlueFit employee called Zoe, and knowing I didn't have the swimming background, I had to be memorable - so I was chatty, confident."</em></p><p><strong>The Visa Details (For the Curious):</strong> For UK applicants like Tori, the visa process was a breeze. As long as you have the equivalent of $5,000 AUD in the bank and a clean police record, it’s often granted instantly online! <em>(Note: The process can be a bit more complex for Irish applicants due to commonwealth rules, but our team is always on hand to help navigate it!)</em></p><p><br /><br /></p></div> <div class="block-wrapper" data-block-id="68f79415-5140-415d-9809-3cc634fff8de"><figure><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6993ed1c84f01f1608f12373/6a91234de18cc50434c4008e_BF035%20Expat%20Working%20Holiday%20Social%20Post%2020254.png" alt="" /></figure></div> <div class="block-wrapper" data-block-id="ff3900d9-3bb1-46c8-8899-7b6b60b819fc"><p><strong>The Reality: A Family Away from Home and Lots of Pool Time</strong></p><p>Before even landing in Australia, the Working Holiday Members get connected. Through group calls and wild WhatsApp chats (debating e-Sims and travel plugs!), the foundation is built. But nothing prepares you for the airport.</p><p><em>"We all met at the airport at Heathrow and that was just bizarre. Twenty strangers who were about to all become a supportive, second family. It was a bit overwhelming, but I guess there's no better way of getting to know someone than being stuck on a 12-hour flight, twice."</em></p><p>Once they hit the ground, the hustle begins. The perks of the program are huge, like amazingly cheap rent in major cities like Sydney or Melbourne, but it’s not just a holiday.</p><p><em>"You definitely have to be a motivated, driven person to do the program. You're in the water 20-25 hours per week, and lifeguarding can be tiring. But I was clocking crazy hours, which meant I was able to travel on this side of the world like Australia and Asia, which has been so much fun!"</em></p><p><strong>Climbing the BlueFit Ladder</strong></p><p>Tori’s plan was originally just a quick stint. She even told her UK colleagues she'd see them by Christmas. But Tori was committed to the 1 year program that BlueFit's offered but was unsure where life would take her after that!!</p><p>Within a year, she progressed from Swim Teacher, to PDC, she was then offered to become an Assistant Swim School Manager. Six to eight months later, she was offered her own Swim School.</p><p><em>"My mum always used to say 'shy kids don't get sweets,' and so I said yes."</em></p><p>Her journey didn't stop there. With three years of recruitment experience back in the UK under her belt, Tori spotted an internal SEEK ad for a BlueFit Recruiter. She put her name in the hat, had a chat with Lauren Dittmar, Chief People Officer, and the rest is history.</p><p><strong>Why the Working Holiday Program Experience Makes for Great Staff</strong></p><p>Because Tori has literally "done it all" at BlueFit - from learning the ropes as a new swimming instructor to managing a school - she brings an incredible perspective to our Recruitment team.</p><p><em>"When I look at school leavers or university students, I know how the sites work. I am fairly familiar with most of the teams in Sydney, so I have a better understanding of who may be a cultural fit. I have done all the Southern Education courses before, so I can give a detailed overview of what to expect and what NOT to do, like leaving your logbook till the night before! Starting poolside gave me a real feel for what actually happens at our sites, and I rely on that firsthand experience every day when recruiting new staff."</em></p><p>We are so lucky to have team members like Tori who bring a sense of adventure, hard work, and brilliant humor to the BlueFit family.</p><p>As Tori perfectly sums it up:</p><p><em>"I am extremely grateful for the Working Holiday Program and all that it's offered me - amazing experiences and friendships in the sun."</em></p></div> <div class="block-wrapper" data-block-id="d0ba4335-b1d8-4d70-96d0-58e24dc08e29"><figure><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6993ed1c84f01f1608f12373/6a9122bade1844f8e208bc02_Tori%20Smith3.png" alt="" /><figcaption>Tori, our resident Scot, celebrating her life in Australia</figcaption></figure></div>