Under The Cap

In this episode we dive Under the Cap and into the life of a teacher in Far North Queensland with Kyrra Johannsen-Weston. We explore the journey into education and the realities of life at the front of the classroom, from earning respect as a young teacher to making a lasting impact on students. Kyrra offers honest insights into the profession and debunks some common misconceptions that we had. Moving from South East Queensland to FNQ, Kyrra shares the benefits of teaching in regional and rural areas and how diversifying your placements throughout university can create new and rewarding experiences. Beyond teaching, Kyrra highlights how surf life saving complements her professional development, including her involvement in SLSQ's development camps as the education Coordinator for LDP in 2025, building transferable skills, confidence and community connections that benefit both roles.

On today's episode of Under the Cap, join us as we chat with Michael White who takes us from the beach to the courtroom and dive into the overlap between Surf Life Saving and the career of a barrister. We touch on the value of wearing different hats and how focussing on building a skillset can set us up for a variety of life experiences, including professional endeavours. Michael reflects on his connection to Surf Life Saving and how his involvement offered him opportunities to develop skills, land his first job and even become the deputy president of SLSQ. We talk mentors, advice for aspiring lawyers, courtroom nerves and how to survive a 20 hour work day. 

Today on Under the Cap, we sit down with Justin Payne, Queensland Ambulance Service’s Gold Coast District Director, to talk about his 20-year journey in paramedicine. From his first days on the road, elbow deep in mud to leading teams across multiple stations as a senior operations supervisor. Justin shares insights on leadership, working under pressure, and the crossover between paramedicine and surf lifesaving. We unpack the different pathways and specialisations available to paramedics and the shift from patient-centric care on the ground to operational leadership in supervisory roles. He opens up about the importance of teamwork, building resilience, and the unique skills lifesavers can bring into first responder careers.

In this episode of Under the Cap, Harriet Grant from Cairns SLSC shares her journey from beach patrols to hospital wards. From growing up in Cairns and patrolling beaches to studying medicine at JCU and taking on her first job in Darwin as a junior doctor. Harriet shares what it’s really like to survive med school, battle imposter syndrome, and start working in hospitals where every day is unpredictable. We chat about the highs and hurdles of becoming a doctor, the reality of hospital life, and the shift from student to full-time professional. Harriet also shares her take on maintaining a work-life balance, the importance of backing yourself, and why sometimes you just need to run your own race.

On todays episode we chat to Zoe Bickerstaffe, SLSQs General Manager of Marketing and Membership. In this episode we uncover the ideas behind the brand new platform from SLSQ - The Youth Collective — a space built to amplify young voices and experiences. We also dive into Zoe's journey from her Communications degree to her role as a General Manager at SLSQ and everything in between. From figuring out what matters in your early career to learning why it’s okay not to have it all figured out, Zoe shares honest reflections on confidence, curiosity, and why real-world experience matters just as much as a degree.