Meet Our Team
Nick Dennis
Director
Nick is the Founder and Director of Coastal Training College and a lifelong Gold Coast local, growing up on the southern end of the coast. With over 15 years of frontline experience as a professional beach lifeguard for the City of Gold Coast, Nick brings deep knowledge of aquatic safety and emergency response to the training sector.
Over the past decade, he has specialised in delivering high-quality CPR, First Aid, Advanced Resuscitation, and Lifeguard & Ocean Safety qualifications. Beyond training delivery, Nick now leads the strategic direction and business development of Coastal Training College—driving expansion, building strong industry partnerships, and ensuring the company continues to meet the evolving safety and compliance needs of workplaces and individuals across South East Queensland.
Kelly Essam
Operations & Marketing Manager
Kelly has over 20+ years experience working in small business and large corporates. With a background in marketing, graphic design and administration, Kelly is our behind the scenes guru who keeps Coastal Training College ticking over with the day to day tasks, marketing, graphics and IT support.
Lachlan MacKintosh
First Aid, CPR and Water Safety trainer
Lachlan joins Coastal Training College with a wealth of experience in all things First Aid. Currently completing Diploma of Emergency Health Care to become a paramedic, Lachlan also has experience as a Pool Lifeguard with extensive Ocean Safety experience, making him an ideal additional for our Water Safety team.
Samuel Burns
First Aid, CPR and Marine & Water Safety trainer
Sam is a Southern Gold Coast local with extensive experience in aquatic safety and emergency response. He spent over 10 years working with the Australian Lifeguard Service on the Tweed Coast, patrolling beaches and providing frontline care. His career has also included over four years as a professional diver and snorkel guide on the Great Barrier Reef, where he ensured guest safety and responded to first aid incidents in remote marine settings.
Sam also spent eight years aboard luxury super yachts around the world, serving as Chief Officer and onboard Medical Officer. He was responsible for crew safety training and emergency medical care, completing advanced courses such as the Shipmasters Medical Course. With real-world experience across beaches, reefs, and vessels, Sam brings practical knowledge, calm leadership, and a hands-on approach to every training session.
About Coastal Training College
Coastal Training College is a locally owned business that was founded in 2016 to service the first aid and aquatic safety training requirements of industries on the Gold Coast. The business has grown to employ a number of trainers and admin staff to help with the growing demand for our services. We changed our name from Ocean Insight to Coastal Training College in 2021 to reflect our increased scope of courses as we expanded into additional areas including Ocean Safety, Pool Lifeguard and Fire Safety training.
Coastal Training College offers convenient and efficient training solutions to the public, workplaces and a wide range of industries across South East QLD. We have a range of clients including large national corporations, state & local governments, and local business. We offer a wide range of courses to the public with over 20+ courses running weekly from our public venues on the Gold Coast.
Our trainers are current industry professionals who understand the importance of keeping training clear, concise and to the point whilst also being approachable and adding in a good dose of fun/humour to our courses. We offer multiple delivery options including full face to face and online learning with face to face assessment. Training and Assessment is delivered on behalf of Allens Training Pty Ltd RTO 90909.
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Why choose Coastal Training Services
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Flexible training
We come to you. Our trainers are current industry professionals who can deliver fun and engaging first aid instruction at your workplace location. Convenient public courses also available.
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Online learning
Choose full face to face learning or allow staff to complete their theory online learning for theory with follow up in person assessment.
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Competitive Pricing
Coastal Training Collage offers affordable training solutions, tailored to your needs. Corporate and group discounts available
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Quality Training
Our training team have over 150 five star reviews and counting! We understand the importance of keeping training clear & concise whilst also being fun.
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Latest Equipment
All training courses use the latest training equipment and technology. Workplace first aid kits are also available to purchase.
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Australia Wide
All courses are nationally recognised with students usually receiving their certificate usually in 24 hours.