TAFE NSW takes Dominic from school to Sydney harbour skipper

A PASSION for the water has helped 21-year-old Roselands local Dominic Bruno become one of the youngest skippers at Captain Cook Cruises, showcasing the career opportunities available in the maritime sector.

"In my senior high school years, I was thinking about a career choice. A lot of my family worked in trades, and I grew up fishing and liked spending time around the water, I just knew I didn’t want to be stuck in an office," he said.

Dominic discovered the maritime industry while completing a TVET course in Year 11.

“I decided to give the TAFE maritime TVET course a go and loved it straight away because it was hands on,” Dominic said.

"Following that, I gained my coxswains qualification, now, just a few years later my office is Sydney Harbour."

After completing his HSC, Dominic enrolled in an entry-level course that helped him land a job as a deckhand with Captain Cook Cruises on Sydney Harbour.

Building on his earlier qualifications, he has since completed further maritime certifications through TAFE NSW and worked his way up to skipper. Dominic now operates ferries, dinner cruises and whale watching tours across Sydney Harbour.  

"When I became a skipper, I was the youngest skipper they had at the time.”

He said safety and decision making are a huge part of what he has learned, skills he said are “critical when you're responsible for a vessel and the safety of up to 200 passengers.”

He credits his maritime teachers' industry experience and practical training for building his foundational maritime knowledge, skills and fast-track his career.

“During one of my courses, we spent a few days on the water practicing techniques. The teachers made it clear, this was the time and place for us to make our mistakes and learn. That hands-on experience under their watchful eye was so valuable.

"The teachers have decades of experience and the practical training on the water gave me the confidence to step into the industry."

"It’s a satisfying career and every day is different. That's what makes the job so interesting," he said. “I’ll get up at 4am, head to Neutral Bay to collect the boat and start the Lane Cove River run. By 9am I’m back at Circular Quay to load up for a whale watching cruise. I love it,” he said.

TAFE NSW Maritime head teacher Marcus Bidey, who previously worked at Captain Cook Cruises, said training remained critical to supporting the future growth of the maritime industry, with sectors including freight, support and tourism dependent upon a capable workforce.

"Dominic's success highlights the opportunities available through vocational education. From school-based training to leadership roles on commercial vessels, maritime offers exciting career pathways for people who enjoy hands-on work and life on the water."

Captain Cook Cruises general manager Djuro Tanjga has seen the maritime sector in Sydney grow since he joined the sector as a deckhand in 2000. He recommends entering the industry as a deck hand, gaining experience across the workings of a vessel then stepping up to other roles.

“There’s plenty of variety in this industry, just in our company we offer variety with different sized vessels requiring different qualifications to skipper them,” Mr Tanjga said.

“Plus, four of our boats need engineers, so there are opportunities on the marine engineering side too. It’s a career with variety is one of the big attractions to this industry.”