The Charles Sturt University first year teaching student created the 'DOLFin' (Deployable Offshore Lifesaving Floatation INvention) while finishing year 12 at St Columba Anglican School in 2019.

The safety device can be used by all beachgoers to minimise danger in the water, not just lifeguards. It has been selected for showcase at the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo as part of the Shape 2019 exhibition.

Ms Bligh-Jones said she designed the invention after a number of coastal drownings during 2018.

"My initial idea came from the fact that in 2018 Australia had 249 fatal drownings nationally and double that amount were non-fatal hospitalisations," she said.

"I just wanted to minimise this issue. I developed a piece of new and portable rescue equipment which was compact and quickly deployable.

"My mum is a part of the Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Club and I thought I could develop something where people could wear the device to help multiple people in a rescue situation.

"It would mean that people who weren't confident swimmers wouldn't have to go in the water to save people.

"Coming up with the design it's in the shape of a pool noodle. That shape is a worldwide thing and people would know how to use that shape immediately."

In a danger situation a lifesaver would be wearing the DOLFin belt before activating a rip cord to inflate a tube with CO2 gas. The tube would be given to the person being rescued.

Top students in design, tech and textiles were selected for the Shape 2019 exhibition which features 35 projects from the 2019 HSC.

"Being at the showcase was pretty exciting. I was only the second person from my school that has ever been selected and I was one of twelve students in the state to be selected in Design and Technology," said Ms Bligh-Jones.

"It was a big thing for me and not something I was expecting to get.

"I have had lots of people telling me to get a patent on the invention and take it further but I think I'm just caught up in the post school life at the moment.

"I'm studying teaching at university and I have no idea which school I'd like to work at. I am doing some teaching assistant work this year though and I'll see how that goes.

"I could end up in the public system or private system of teaching. I'm not sure yet but I'd like to stay in Port Macquarie."

NSW Education Standards Authority chief executive Paul Martin said the exhibition has an impressive selection of HSC talent.

"It is incredible to see such creative solutions to real world problems emerge from this group of students," he said.

"From a prototype for an indoor compost system, a hydro generator for remote locations to swimwear that alerts the wearer to UV overexposure and an offset food smoker, students have developed truly remarkable solutions."

The exhibition closes on Sunday, May 3.

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