OPINION: Seafarer welfare funding and building a nationally consistent approach

IT WAS a great honour to be included in All About Shipping's Top 100 Women in Global Shipping, where I was ranked 45 among those whose work spans every part of the maritime value chain. That recognition is not simply personal; it reflects the growing visibility of seafarer welfare within mainstream industry thinking.

It also sits within a broader global movement. The recent announcement by All About Shipping highlights the depth of leadership emerging across our sector and the increasing value placed on collaboration, people and purpose in maritime trade.

Those same themes were evident throughout the Wellbeing at Sea 2026 conference and in DCN’s coverage of it — and they point to a practical next step for Australia: a more nationally consistent approach to seafarer welfare.

Aligning welfare with our regulatory leadership

Australia, through AMSA, is widely respected for its leadership in port state control and its strong enforcement of the Maritime Labour Convention. The MLC sets out clear expectations around shore leave, access to communication, medical care and welfare support. These outcomes depend on services being available in ports. Across Australia, those services are delivered to a high standard through long-standing partnerships between port authorities, welfare providers, shipping companies and local communities.

Last year alone, Mission to Seafarers centres across Australia welcomed more than 99,000 seafarers and responded to 508 justice and welfare cases—a reminder that these services are not theoretical; they are frontline, operational and often delivered at moments of real vulnerability for crews. The opportunity now is to ensure that their long-term sustainability matches the strength of our regulatory framework.

Strong Australian models already in place

Encouragingly, Australia does not need to start from first principles. In Portland, a structured per-ship contribution has provided stability for welfare services for many years. It is simple, transparent and operationally neutral for the port.

In New South Wales, the five-year funding commitment from the Port Authority of NSW, NSW Ports and the Port of Newcastle represent a significant step forward. The commitment recognises seafarer welfare as a shared supply-chain responsibility and enables services to be planned and delivered with certainty.

In the Pilbara, Sam McSkimming’s call to “change the game” is important because it places welfare within the core business of a port — alongside safety, workforce capability and operational performance.

Each of these examples has been developed locally, in response to local conditions, and in close cooperation with industry. Together they provide a strong foundation for broader national alignment.

Supporting supply-chain resilience

Australia’s national conversation is rightly focused on resilience, productivity and sustainability in our supply chains. Seafarers are central to each of those priorities.

When crews can step ashore, contact their families, access transport and receive practical and pastoral support, the benefits extend well beyond the individual. These services contribute to safety, efficiency, crew wellbeing and the reputation of Australian ports as responsible global partners.

This is increasingly relevant as ESG expectations grow and as international attention remains firmly on labour standards in global shipping.

Industry partnership in practice

One of the strengths of the Australian model has always been the willingness of industry to engage directly with welfare outcomes. Initiatives such as the Ports to Peaks challenge, which brings together port authorities, shipping companies, service providers and maritime professionals in practical support of seafarers, show how that partnership can be both visible and impactful.

Whether through sponsoring the event, fielding a team or supporting participants, these collective efforts help sustain services while reinforcing the shared commitment to the people at the heart of the supply chain.

Addressing inconsistency

At present, the level of welfare support available to seafarers varies between ports. While this reflects local initiative and history, it also presents an opportunity for the next stage of development.

A more consistent framework would:
•    provide certainty for service delivery
•    ensure equity for seafarers visiting Australian ports
•    support regional and smaller ports
•    align welfare provision with MLC outcomes

Importantly, it would build upon — not replace — the strong partnerships that already exist.

An opportunity for Australian maritime leadership

Australia has long been regarded as a leader in maritime regulation and port operations. By bringing together the successful initiatives already operating in our ports into a more consistent and sustainable framework, we have an opportunity to demonstrate leadership not only in compliance, but in the practical delivery of welfare outcomes.

This is not about introducing a new concept. It is about recognising, supporting and aligning the work that is already being done. For a trading nation that depends entirely on seaborne imports and exports, this is part of the natural evolution of a mature port system.

The progress we are seeing has been made possible by cooperation between port authorities, industry, regulators and welfare providers. It is in that same spirit of partnership that the next stage can be shaped — ensuring every seafarer who comes to Australia experiences the professionalism, consistency and care for which our maritime sector is known.