A NEW educational partnership between Poseidon Sea Pilots and the Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders-In-Council Aboriginal Corporation (MMEIC), will offer four maritime traineeships for First Nations descendants from the Quandamooka region.
MMEIC chair, Uncle Norman Enoch said the traineeship would set four young First Nation’s Goenpul, Nugi and Noonuccal Traditional from the Quandamooka region up with a lifelong career pathway.
“We are so excited by what Poseidon is offering our community,” Uncle Norman Enoch said.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response and we are so very proud so many of our young people have shown an interest in this traineeship.
“The education combined with the real-world experience Poseidon Sea Pilots is offering secures each candidate a genuine opportunity to enjoy a long career in the maritime industry.
“Salt water runs through our young people’s veins. Our Goenpul, Nugi and Noonuccal People from the Quandamooka region have grown up swimming, fishing, hunting and gathering in Moreton Bay Quandamooka waters all their lives. For our young people to have the ability to now have a career on the water is a natural progression.”
Uncle Norman Enoch hopes after the overwhelming response for the traineeships it encourages more Moreton Bay-based maritime businesses to see the value in investing into local traineeships and working collaboratively with MMEIC Elders to support First Nations People into career pathways.
Poseidon Sea Pilots’ Captain Robert Buck said the Traditional Owners of Moreton Bay, were the ideal partners for Poseidon Sea Pilots having navigated the local waters and coastlines for more than 25,000 years.
“This new long-term educational partnership with the First Nation’s Goenpul, Nugi and Noonuccal Traditional Owner from the Quandamooka region is invaluable,” Captain Buck said.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our crew to learn and absorb from young people who have a such a deep connection, respect and intimate knowledge of their backyard of Moreton Bay.
“In return, thanks to the support of the Queensland government, trainees will learn on the job, gaining new skills and real-world experience and potentially enjoying a bright future in Queensland’s maritime industry.”
From 2022, Poseidon Sea Pilots will be responsible for the safe navigation of around 2500 vessels in the Moreton Bay region each year.
Trainees will undertake a variety of seafaring duties including assisting in the operation and management of Poseidon’s new $7 million fleet of state-of-the-art Brisbane-built pilot vessels.
Four aspiring mariners – from a pool of 14 young applicants – will be selected.
The 14 hopefuls, their families and Elders recently toured Poseidon Sea Pilots to better understand what a future in the Queensland marine industry might hold.
A wide variety of Poseidon’s various professionals showcased technology, safety products and took the group past the Port of Brisbane and into Moreton Bay on one of their new multi-million dollar specialist pilot boats the trainees would work and learn on, if successful.
Trainees will be awarded a paid marine traineeship that culminates in a commercial marine qualification and potentially a long and prosperous career with Poseidon Sea Pilots.
