Seafaring on Sea Country

“We’re all saltwater people here, we all used to be seafarers here, so to do that again now is just amazing.”

That’s the words of Yuin man Adrian Webster, one of more than 200 Aboriginal people up and down the NSW coast to gained skills to work in the marine industry through the Marine Estate Management Strategy’s (MEMS) Cultural Economic Development project.

The Cultural Economic Development (CED) project was developed to train and mentor local Aboriginal people to work in the marine tourism industry, both as employees and in their own enterprises. It has involved tailor making training programs in consultation with the local Aboriginal community to ensure accessibility and appropriateness.

The numbers show this approach has worked with a more than 90% completion rate and many graduates using their qualifications and skills to gain employment in the industry and develop their own marine businesses.

Yuin man and founder of Joonga Land & Water Aboriginal Corporation, Wally Stewart, is a graduate and mentor of courses delivered through the project. He said delivering training in close consultation with the local Aboriginal community was at the heart of the project’s success.

“MEMS were able to bring the course to the community and deliver the training in a more Koori community friendly environment with trainers that were very Cultural educated in working with Aboriginal people,” he said.

“This has led people to real jobs because they now have qualifications,” Mr Stewart said.

DPI Fisheries Manager, Ian Kerr has been involved with the project since its inception. He said the CED project came about as discussions with coastal Aboriginal communities identified barriers to local community entering the marine industry.

“Initial consultation with Aboriginal communities indicated there was a need to increase marine skills and qualifications for Aboriginal people so they could access employment in the industry,” he said.

“The project started small in 2018 with training held at just two locations on the south coast (Narooma and Huskisson). Since then, it has grown to involve training at a dozen different locations across coastal NSW,” Mr Kerr said.

“It’s fantastic to see participants increasing confidence as they gain skills and qualifications in the marine industry, and ultimately in building a career,’ he said.

Qualifications delivered through the project include general boat license, flatwater training, deckhand training, Certificate II in Maritime Operations (coxswain), research scuba diving and Certificate II in Tourism.

If you are interested in learning more about the Cultural Economic Development project, check out our project page https://www.marine.nsw.gov.au/projects/cultural-economic-development