The program, now in its second year, aims to strengthen leadership skills and create the next generation of female leaders for future endeavours in Surf Life Saving.

The 23-year-old Shellharbour Village local has been finding the program supportive.

"I feel like the world is just sitting at my feet, ready to see where I can go," she said.

"I am really getting to know what's available, to educate me, and to be a better leader, and contribute more to society."

Ms Oldroyd has grown up by the water, going from a nipper, to managing nippers and patrolling the beach as a cadet at the Shellharbour Surf Club.

Now she is the junior club captain at the club after taking a break for a few years after the loss of her brother, and living and working in South America.

She always knew she would return to her local surf club.

"It's just felt like I never left."

The social sciences student sees the benefits of the program going beyond her volunteering at the club.

"I am an early childhood educator, so I have a job in Jervis Bay, I am in the 0-3 room with little babies and children, and I am sure that would help me in a team-building environment as well," she said.

"I hope to be a play therapist or an early childhood practitioner, supporting young children and parents as well with whatever they may encounter in life is difficult like just trauma-based or additional needs or just mental health.

"That is something I would really love to do, and play therapy is where I would be supporting young children through play, and I think that these skills that I am learning in this program I am sure will help me later in life with all different parts of my life."

In this year's program, 21 mentees have been selected across five states, and will each have their own mentor.

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McCarthy Mentoring CEO Sophie McCarthy said the leadership organisation "is proud to support Surf Life Saving Australia's Women's Mentoring Program."

"It has been both enjoyable and rewarding to play a role in helping to develop these amazing women and future leaders of surf lifesaving and can't wait to begin working with the next group," she said.

Surf Life Saving Australia Life Member and Board Director, Suzanne Storrie is excited for its potential after the program's initial success.

"It has been incredible to listen and watch both the mentees and mentors learn and grow from this experience, with many discovering passions, securing new jobs and of course using their experience to strengthen and enrich their own Surf Life Saving community," she said.

"The program allows us to connect the many talented females within our movement and the growth and development that has occurred with our initial group has been nothing short of inspirational."

Ms Oldroyd will graduate from the program with other mentees in January 2022.

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