Thel Lay is Changing Lives

In 2007, Thel Lay lived in a Thai-Burmese refugee camp, far from the beaches of Victoria.  

12 months later, she took her first swim lesson through LSV’s very first multicultural learn-to-swim program at Aquapulse in Hoppers Crossing. That moment sparked a passion that would change her life. 

By 2015, Thel Lay made history as the first female of Karen descent to become a Victorian surf lifesaver. At just 14 years old, she joined the ranks of Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club, paving the way for others in her community to follow. 

Fast forward to 2025, Thel Lay is not only an instructor in LSV’s award-winning Multicultural and Senior Pathway Program helping others build skills and careers in water safety, but she’s also working at Aquapulse as a Swim Teacher and Pool Lifeguard while studying Criminology at university. Her journey is an example of the power of opportunity, education, and inclusion. 

Through our Trainee Pathway, Thel Lay has grown from a young learner to a leader, proving that when we embrace diversity, we create stronger, safer communities. Her story reminds us that lifesaving is more than a skill, it’s a pathway to belonging, confidence, and a future full of possibilities.