A new wave of students has proudly completed their Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) Coxswain’s Course programme at the Whitsunday Sailing Club.
The innovative initiative helps shape the future of the marine industry by providing local school students with the skills, training, and opportunities they need to pursue a career on the water.
This year’s programme saw 24 students from Proserpine State High School, St Catherine’s Catholic College and Mirani State High School join the 2024/2025 Coxswain’s cohort. The students have undergone extensive classroom and on-water training, gaining critical hands-on experience aboard the Red Cat Adventures fleet.
Over the last two years, 82 students have successfully completed the course, with five of the students being employed by SeaLink Whitsundays.
Asher Telford, General Manager at SeaLink Whitsundays, developed the idea in 2022 to address staffing shortages and a housing crisis that affected the marine and tourism industries in the region. Mr Telford shared:
“I am immensely proud of the programme's success.”
“When I developed this idea in 2022, we were facing critical staffing shortages and a housing crisis, prompting us to seek alternative methods for recruiting and training professional skippers. By reaching out to local schools, we found a solution.”
This year's course also saw 12 Coxswain trainees participate in SeaLink Whitsundays’ work experience programme during school holidays, where they received additional on-the-job training alongside the crew.
Students completed three terms of classroom learning and benefitted from real-world training. The programme covered a range of challenging subjects such as coastal navigation, seamanship, vessel handling, and maritime legislation.
Importantly, students also gained critical 'Shipboard Safety' skills, learning how to launch life rafts, deploy emergency flares, fight fires, and master in-water survival techniques.
Deb Duggan, Training Coordinator at the Whitsunday Maritime Training Centre, praised the students' dedication and progress throughout the year, stating:
“The students tackled a wide range of subjects, many of which were new and challenging for those unfamiliar with boats.
“It’s been amazing to see their confidence grow as they honed their skills on the water.”
Each student is now on the pathway to obtaining a Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal qualification – a nationally recognised certification issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), enabling them to operate commercial vessels under 12 metres in inshore waters.
A new wave of students has proudly completed their Coxswain’s Course. Photo supplied
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