When attending a concert at a theatre, moseying around an art gallery or museum, strolling past your local community centre or experiencing child-like wonder at the zoo, do you stop to ponder who is in charge of the management and operations of this bustling facility?
In ‘Meet Your Local FM’, we talk with the facility and operation managers, technical service and safety operators, and sustainability officers of iconic Australian institutions.
We’re diving deep to reveal a facility’s inner mechanics, along with the who and what it takes to keep these special spaces running so smoothly. We’re putting a face to a facility and debunking any assumptions surrounding this essential profession, which many don’t know a lot about.
The sense of joy, delight and calmness experienced at a public pool – whether splashing and frolicking about, idly working through laps of freestyle or squinting while reading a dog-eared book on a highly sought-after banana lounge – does not fade with age.
A visit to the public pool is bound to offer the chance for invigoration and socialisation, or even five minutes of peace for parents enduring school-holiday fatigue and finding respite in tag-teaming supervision duties with a pool noodle or waterslide.
Victoria Park Pool assistant centre manager Frankie Foster feels privileged to play an important role in ensuring such exciting and multi-purpose spaces are safe, sustainable and inclusive.
“Pools provide a space where people of all ages and abilities can exercise and improve physical health and mental wellbeing,” she says.
Foster says the purpose of a community pool extends beyond providing a place for exercise and lazy lounging. “The physical activity and social interaction at a pool strengthens community bonds, promotes inclusivity, and contributes to a healthier and more connected society,” she says.
Facility Management spoke with Foster about the readily embraced unpredictability of her days at Victoria Park Pool, alongside the importance of adaptability and intersectoral collaboration when managing daily operations and emergencies at high-risk public spaces. Foster says the variety and intrigue of their days at the pool render monotony impossible.
In this summer nostalgia edition of ‘Meet Your Local FM’, Foster also speaks of the immense responsibility and honour of managing a pool that is not only chasing net-zero emissions by 2035, but is powered by 100 percent renewable electricity sourced from regional wind and solar farms in New South Wales. Dive or cannon bomb into Foster’s days at Victoria Park Pool below.
Victoria Park Pool assistant centre manager Frankie Foster feels privileged to play an important role in ensuring multi-purpose spaces are safe, sustainable and inclusive.
Facility Management: Can you provide a career background and what led you to be the assistant centre manager at Victoria Park Pool?
Frankie Foster: Before finishing school, I worked casually in the hospitality industry, which helped me build a strong work ethic and develop valuable customer service skills. As I moved into tertiary studies, I began working with Belgravia Leisure within the City of Sydney. Since then, my time with the company has been full of learning, growth and personal development. I have been fortunate to work under supportive and empowering leaders who have played a key role in my career progression, from starting as a lifeguard to being the assistant centre manager at Victoria Park Pool.
Can you paint a picture of your average day at Victoria Park Pool and outline your main roles and responsibilities?
No two days at Victoria Park Pool are ever the same, which is one of the things I enjoy the most about the role. Every day brings challenges and opportunities. We work to deliver a high standard of service in a unique and high-risk environment.
My role involves supporting daily operations and ensuring our team functions effectively and that safety remains a top priority for both staff and patrons. I help meet regulatory requirements, maintain facility standards and ensure we provide a range of services for our community. It’s a fast-paced environment that requires adaptability, teamwork and proactiveness.
What other departments do you work with?
In my role at Victoria Park Pool, I oversee and collaborate with a number of key departments, including customer service, health and wellbeing, aquatic operations and group exercise programs.
In addition to our on-site teams, we work closely with various central support services across the organisation, such as marketing, finance, digital and community engagement. This cross-functional collaboration is essential to deliver smooth day-to-day operations and a cohesive and high-quality experience for our members and guests.
As part of the City of Sydney’s decarbonisation goals, all operations at Victoria Park Pool are powered by 100 percent renewable electricity sourced from regional wind and solar farms in NSW.
What are the biggest challenges and difficulties of your job?
The role requires our management team and staff to be highly dynamic and adaptable to changing circumstances and unexpected situations. These can range from operational challenges, safety concerns or sudden shifts in staffing and weather conditions.
While these situations can be difficult, they also help build resilience and contribute to a workplace that’s constantly evolving, keeping our days interesting and engaging.
Can you share the recent upgrades to Victoria Park Pool and the embrace of sustainable maintenance and operation practices?
Sustainability is a priority for both the City of Sydney and Belgravia Leisure. The City of Sydney’s significant investment in the Victoria Park Pool electrification project played a vital role in our journey toward net-zero emissions by 2035. Victoria Park Pool is the first to be upgraded to efficient electric heat pumps with a new smart control system that optimises performance.
As part of the City of Sydney’s decarbonisation goals, all operations at Victoria Park Pool are powered by 100 percent renewable electricity sourced from regional wind and solar farms in NSW. In addition to electrification, our team is committed to ongoing reviews of our operations to identify new opportunities for improvement. Whether it is in the realm of energy efficiency, water conservation or waste reduction, we actively seek out ways to minimise environmental impact and contribute to long-term sustainability goals.
Are there any misconceptions about the facilities management world you would like to address?
There are often misconceptions around the role of a facility manager in the leisure industry, however, my role has a high degree of responsibility and expectations around safety, providing for our community and supporting our team.
Does technology play a part in your day?
Technology plays a key role in how we operate daily. We’ve made great improvements in using technology to improve efficiency, streamline operations and enhance the accessibility of our facilities and services for customers. Our team is excited about the results we’re seeing from ongoing technology projects.
What are your career highlights?
One of the highlights of my career has been seeing the positive impact our services and spaces have on the community. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch how these opportunities improve wellbeing and create meaningful connections. I’m especially proud of our role in larger community events at Victoria Park, such as Yabun Festival and Fair Day. These events not only showcase the reach of our facilities and services but also emphasise the valuable benefits we bring to the community.
What do you love about your job? What are some heartwarming moments?
What I love most about my job is the sense of community our team has built at Victoria Park Pool. While it’s not the largest facility in the City of Sydney, our close-knit team has created a strong family-like atmosphere. We’ve fostered deep and personable connections with the members of our community, which makes our work so much more meaningful.
Reflecting on heartwarming moments, what really stands out to me are when leaders have brought our team together to enhance our capabilities and promote collaboration. These moments of unity and teamwork are inspiring and remind me of the positive impact we can have when we all work together towards a common goal.
Foster says pools serve as social hubs and bring together diverse groups to connect, share experiences and build a sense of belonging.
What do you think accessible and sustainable public infrastructure gives back to the community?
Accessible and sustainable public pools offer significant benefits to the community by promoting physical activity and fostering opportunities for social interactions. Pools provide a space where people of all ages and abilities can exercise and improve physical health and mental wellbeing.
They also serve as social hubs and bring together diverse groups to connect, share experiences and build a sense of belonging. This combination of physical activity and social interaction strengthens community bonds, promotes inclusivity and contributes to a healthier and more connected society.
Photography supplied.
Meet Your Local FM: NARC’s Nathan Bird on striving for constant improvement.
