DCN October Edition 2019

INDUSTRY OPINION
Industry creates unique marine
training program
The Australasian Institute of Marine Surveyors is seeking to bring
maritime training to Indigenous Australians
LAST YEAR THE AUSTRALASIAN
completed the courses with more than 80%
Institute of Marine Surveyorss committed
of students transitioning into maritime
to including social and community
related employment. It is highly likely that
obligations as part of its strategic operations.
a number of the above graduates candidates
The organisation has developed a
would be interested in and eligible to
training program to encourage Indigenous
enrol in AIMS marine survey training and
people to consider entering the marine
because of the success of TSMPP it makes
survey industry. It will be implemented at a
sense to introduce Indigenous Australians
national level and in the first instance will
to marine surveying and reduce the number
seek to recruit, train and provide ongoing
of overseas entrants in the industry.
employment for five Indigenous Australians
as marine surveyors from 2020-2021. The
ANCIENT SEAFARING HISTORY
AIMS intends to recruit at least one student
Not many people realise that Indigenous
in New South Wales and Queensland, the
Australians have an ancient seafaring
Northern Territory and two in Western
history and that for thousands of years
Australia however the numbers could be
they made canoes and travelled in our
expanded if the response is great enough.
waterways and our shores.
There is a piece of rock art in the
QUALIFIED SEAFARERS
Marine surveying is an industry that has
Kimberley region of Western Australia that
is 17,000 years old and you can clearly see
Susan Hull, CEO, Australasian Institute
of Marine Surveyors
traditionally relied on qualified seafarers to
the four men in the canoe with three of
take up marine surveyor roles. While some
the men holding paddles. You can also see
The program will be typically 12-18
companies still rely on recruiting seafarers
that the canoe has a high stern and prow
months duration with an employment
from overseas, they acknowledge these
so perhaps it was used further from shore
outcome on completion. Some candidates
recruits still require additional training in
than we think.
may complete the program earlier depending
order to undertake marine survey roles.
As part of a tribute to that remarkable
on previous qualifications and experience.
Another problem faced by overseas
story, in 2018 four young men travelled
recruits is the hardships they face in being
70km over three days to retrace what was
KEY COMPONENTS
so far from home and often based in
once a maritime trade route connecting
The program will involve two formal study
remote port communities such as those in
the First Peoples of the Gold Coast and
components, being an entry certificate
northern WA and many do not adapt well.
North Stradbroke Island, or Minjerribah
in marine surveying and followed up by
In 2006 a program was introduced to
as it’s known to the local Quandamooka
entry to the International Diploma. There
reduce the number of marine rescues in
people. The story has been made into a
still will be some eligibility criteria which
the Torres Strait and that program was
documentary film The Saltwater Story and
will include obviously being of Indigenous
expanded in 2014 to help equip Torres
it’s a pretty remarkable tale.
heritage, holding a maritime qualification
Strait Islanders with training and skills to
or some experience and having completed
pursue careers locally. The program was
FIRM OBJECTIVES
secondary education to at least year 11.
so successful that many have now gone on
The AIMS program has firm objectives
Graduates of the Torres Strait Marine
from those courses to get sea time up and
that include developing awareness of
Pathway Program are strongly encouraged
find work as deckhands and crew on boats,
the ‘sea country’ philosophy held by
to apply. In support of the program, AMSA
fishing boats or commercial boats.
Indigenous Australians to our members
have agreed to provide some funding and
and encouraging the consideration of
possibly a ‘work component’ for successful
SUCCESS IN THE TORRES STRAIT
recruitment and training for Indigenous
students and recruitment will begin in
To date, more than 200 Torres Strait
Islander and Aboriginal people have
undertaken Torres Strait Marine Pathway
Program and 95% of students successfully
persons across the membership as well as
maintaining membership, training and
recruitment of Indigenous marine surveyors
as a long term objective of the AIMS.
earnest in early 2020. Any person or
organisation that would like to have more
information or would like to register their
interest can do so by contacting AIMS.
Image supplied
22 October 2019
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