An AUD$2.5m fund has been created to handle donations from the Port Authority of New South Wales, NSW Ports, and the Port of Newcastle.
The Mission to Seafarers (MtS), which has been serving seafarers visiting NSW for over 150 years, thanked the welfare initiative members for selecting our Sydney, Newcastle, Port Kembla and Eden Missions as round 1 beneficiaries of the new Seafarers Welfare Fund.
“Seafarers work in one of the world’s toughest jobs and some of their suffering hit our television screens during covid and when the Portland Bay floundered off our coastline,” said Clayton Strong, CEO of Mission to Seafarers Sydney.
“We are extremely grateful for this welfare initiative members for recognising the need and combining together to build this commitment. This funding will help to ensure all our Mission centres can reach more seafarers than ever before with our practical, caring services,” Mr Strong said. “The Initiatives’ co-ordinated approach will help us all to do our part in delivering the wellbeing services that will help make NSW the leading state for seafarer care and potentially a model for other ports,” Mr Strong said.
Mission to Seafarers Sydney said that it received funding for one year that will also be used for an additional part-time seafarer support staff member for one year, and assistance so that it can serve more seafarers with services such as free buses, running a support and recreation centre in Millers Point, and visiting seafarers in need on ships and in hospitals.
The Initiative was announced at the Mission to Seafarers Annual Luncheon in Sydney on June 21, 2024. Keynote speaker Philip Holliday CEO, Port Authority of New South Wales announced the initiative with Jonathan Lafforgue, General Manager, Operations and Environment NSW Ports and Craig Carmody CEO, Port of Newcastle also addressing the group of 170 members of the port community present.
Captain Philip Holliday, CEO of the Port Authority of NSW, told guests Mission to Seafarers Annual Luncheon that, every year for the next five years, the Port Authority of New South Wales, the Port of Newcastle and NSW Ports will together donate up to AUD$500k to a new “Seafarers’ Welfare Fund”.
He thanked Craig Carmody, CEO of the Port of Newcastle, and Marika Calfas, CEO of NSW Ports for their support.
Funds will be donated upon application to the various Mission to Seafarer organisations and also to Hunterlink.
Jonathan Lafforgue, General Manager Operations & Environment, NSW Port told guests that Seafarers’ welfare is a passion at NSW Ports and he congratulated the Mission to Seafarer for raising awareness of the work of seafarers.
Craig Carmody, CEO of the Port of Newcastle, told guest that he is proud that the port is part of the fund. The port will have seat on the board and, he told guest, the involvement would not end “when the cheque is cut”.
Sue Dight, director of the Mission to Seafarers, thanked the various parties for their support, adding that she hoped that other port authorities would take note.
