Two indigenous students who have completed “Get into Maritime” course with the Sea Heritage Foundation, TAFE NSW, and supported by Prince’s Trust Australia, have secured jobs as deck hands with marine services provider SERCO.
The two deckhands will be working with the SERCO Defence Marine Support Services (DMSS) team in Sydney for their two-year traineeship as deckhands on the Royal Australian Navy’s fuel barges.
The Get into Maritime program is run in collaboration between TAFE NSW, the Sea Heritage Foundation, and the Princes Trust Australia. Sea Heritage Foundation Chairman CJ Manjarres-Wahlberg stated, “I am proud that the collaboration between our three organisation has been able to facilitate opportunities to increase First Nations education and employment in the maritime industry”.
Capt Melwyn Noronha, CEO of Shipping Australia and a board member of the Sea Heritage Foundation, congratulated the two men on their achievement. “It is wonderful to see young people complete their courses and to take up roles aboard ships. I wish them every success in the future”.
The Sea Heritage Foundation also reports that the second cohort of its Indigenous General Purpose Hand “Get into Maritime” course graduated 10 students in December 2023.
