Recreation Co-ordinator

Dexter: My name is Dexter Henderson, I’m 16 years old and I go to Western Springs College. I’m very interested in sports, I reckon that will be my career choice.

Clinton: Options are huge in the sport, fitness and recreation industry. For Dexter to get a taste of what is out there, he’s going to spend time at Howick Recreation Centre and the Manurewa Aquatic Centre. Plus, he’ll get some one-on-one with a fitness trainer. First up, team leader Taryn Walker tells us what qualities are needed to work in this industry.

Taryn: It definitely helps for them to be enthusiastic and really enjoy what they’re about to do. We do a lot of work with kids, so really enjoy children.

Taryn: Hi! How are you? I’m Taryn, good to see you, good to have you on board. What we’ll do first of all is I’ll just show you around the centre, so you can get an idea of what it’s like around here.

Clinton: The centre facilitates numerous activities and caters for all ages. At present, the school holiday programme is in full swing.

Dexter: What would I have to do if I’m just new into this?

Tarryn: As an assistant, you would be helping to assist programmes like this – the holiday programmes. If you wanted to coach, you could coach like that. If you get a full-time job, you would be co-ordinating a lot of the other programmes, and then you would be doing all of the admin side of things as well, so planning the programmes, running them, taking training sessions for the coaches that are here.

Clinton: Dexter soon gets involved by participating in a basketball game. This gives him an opportunity to observe how Enoch Chan coaches the children.

Enoch: When you run back here you’re allowed to take one shot. OK, are you ready…steady…go!

Dexter: Go Blue!

Dexter: For the coaching, Enoch was really great. It was really good how he had the whole situation under control.

Clinton: Now it’s Dexter’s turn to take an activity.

Children: Hi Dexter!

Dexter: I feel confident in controlling the kids. It will take a little bit before I know what they will listen to, but as soon as I do find that out I can put that into practice.

Taryn: Dexter is doing really well. He’s got a lot of sports knowledge, you can see that. It’s really good. A good start to it, he’s got what it takes.

Clinton: But there is more to the job than entertaining children.

Taryn: So another big part of our job is that you’ve got to be quite physical, be able to lift and know how to lift safely. We’ve got heaps of gear here as you can see. Usually we follow a plan, and we just set out all the gear. And each plan, every week, for each programme is different. So it’s a lot of fun, and a good team environment. It’s good.

Clinton: The sport, fitness and recreation industry training organisation helps workplaces set up training for their staff to work towards nationally recognised awards and certificates.

Taryn: For our systems, we require them to be 16 or over, just because they are working with children and they have to be responsible and have a bit of initiative. Experience is a big thing as well, so if you can get into coaching or volunteering early, it really helps to get you there.

Clinton: Another option in this industry is to work as a pool lifeguard.

Steve: Unemployed and school leavers can come in and do some training and then take on seasonal work over the summer months and then they’ve got the opportunity to go on to full time.

Clinton: Other aspects of the job involve training and implementing pool activities, supervision of the customers in the pool to ensure their safety, and cleaning and maintaining plant operations. Ongoing training is often provided by the employer. Within the same complex is a health and fitness gymnasium. Ieti Lologa has been a fitness instructor for seven years. He offers some insight into the job.

Ieti: When coming into the gym, everyone that comes through has a different goal. Apart from knowing what exercises and programmes to put them through, you need to be able to understand how to listen to the person and take into consideration what it is they’re actually wanting from you. It’s a people-based job, and you can go away and you can study all the things that sport has to offer but at the end of the day, it’s all about dealing with people, and you need to be able to that really well.

Clinton: Ieti takes Dexter on an introductory tour to get him familiar with the gear.

Clinton: So how fit do you have to be for this job?

Ieti: I don’t think we really hold their fitness levels against them. It’s more a keenness of the job – if they’re really wanting to get in there and have a go then we’re more than open to having those people come through.

Clinton: Every prospective client or new member is shown around and explained the workings of the gym. Listen carefully, Dexter, because it’s your turn next.

Dexter: I think I’m up to the challenge. It will be difficult to just remember what I have to do, but I think I’m ready for it.

Customer: I was just wondering about joining the gym, and what’s involved, and the cost etc?

Ieti: OK, what I’ll do is I’ll pass you on to Dexter here.

Ieti: This industry is always growing, and at the moment because obesity is still unfortunately on the rise, we’re always going to be looking for new trainers. Personal training is in huge demand at the moment.

Clinton: Time for an evaluation.

Taryn: Dexter was really good. It is definitely very hard at first when you're working with kids and knowing what to do with them and how to get their attention. But he actually did very well.

Ieti: I think he did exceptionally well. He remembered quite a few of the things that we went over this morning, and a lot of those things are the important things that a lot of the clients need when they come through. I think he has the definite people skills that you need in a gym, and I think with a little bit of training and a little bit of guidance I think he’ll go far.

Dexter: The experience has been really good. I’ve enjoyed everything that everyone has taught me and I really liked working with the kids because they were just so fun to be around. I can see myself moving into these areas. If I do get into it, I would be very happy with what I have chosen.

Clinton: To work in the sports, fitness and recreation industry you need to be at least 16 years old and it’s highly recommended to have a certificate in first aid. All staff work towards a national certificate in their chosen field. Most of the training and assessments take place in the workplace itself. Wages vary. Working in a recreation centre, you could earn between $11 and $20 per hour. Pool supervisors and lifeguards usually earn between $11 and $15 per hour, fitness instructors $11 to $20 per hour, and personal trainers between $35 and $80 per hour.