Aussie Skills Training a winning tradition

Presenting the “People and Skills Development” Award (From left) Ed Slack IBI Editor, Boat Builder Awards judge Alice Driscoll with Riviera's Kyle Davison, Matthew Weetman and David Ede © Boating Industry Association

At the 2024 Boat Builder Awards in Amsterdam held 20 November, Riviera was recognised for its vision and the achievements of its Academy of Excellence with the award for "People and Skills Development".

This follows on from the success of all-Australian "Marine Jobs" initiative which took out the same accolade at the 2023 edition and, when combined, these back-to-back accolades highlight the overall efforts by industry in Australia to respond to the demand for a skilled workforce now and into the years ahead.

The 10th annual Boat Builder Awards, organised by IBI and METSTRADE, recognised industry professionals from 15 countries with awards that spanned Lifetime Achievement and emerging talent, to innovative products and initiatives in sustainability.

Australian owned and made, Riviera has been building top-quality motor yachts since 1980 and began exporting vessels in 1983. The Queensland-based business began its apprentice training program in 1993. In that first year, eight young Australians took up apprenticeships. Today 101 young apprentices, at varying stages of training, work at the company's 16-hectare site on Queensland's Gold Coast. They learn alongside highly experienced craftspeople, working together to manufacture over 150 yachts a year, ranging in length from 39 to 78 feet.

Announcing this year's award for People and Skills Development, the judges praised Riviera's "dedication to training the next generation of boat builders".

The judges said, "One sixth of the company's 900 workers are apprentices who are now supported by a first-class onsite Academy of Excellence, teaching multiple trades and supporting personal development. By any measure this is an impressive program and an exemplar for boat builders across the world."

At the 2022 Boat Builder Awards, Riviera was joint winner of the "Best Apprenticeship or Training Scheme" category, commended for their "long-standing nurturing of apprentices and graduates, contributing greatly to the skilled workforces of their companies and regions".

Last year, Marine Jobs took the 'top gong' for People and Skills Development. This multi-faceted collaborative program by the marine industry in Australia aims to address the country's skills shortage, and focuses on industry-wide development, government advocacy, retention and recruitment of skills.

The Marine Jobs website was launched in 2021 in collaboration with the Marina Industries Association (MIA), and Superyacht Australia. The Boating Industry Association (BIA) recently acquired the Marine Jobs brand which brings with it the social media assets and website. For BIA the Marine Jobs brand fits neatly into its growing skills and training effort that already encompasses running careers events and marketing, work with governments at State and Federal levels to support marine careers, and engaging key stakeholders such as the RTO to promote jobs and skills for the wider marine industry.

The BIA works closely with TAFE (Technical and Further Education) in every State, helping build courses and guiding member businesses towards sending young people to do their TAFE training. BIA has partnered with The Industry School (formerly the Australian Industry Trade College) to establish the Marine Academy for young people from school years 10, 11 and 12 in Australia (ages 15 to18). This industry-driven Academy provides a pathway to a marine career while students complete senior school.

Work is also under way to create a mentoring program for skilled marine industry individuals who might want to launch their own small business, step into the shoes of a retiring owner or build on their knowledge with the view of progressing their career.

2023 was also a significant year for Aussies, with the General Manager of boat manufacturer, Edencraft International, Josie Eastman, winning the Rising Star Award at the METSTRADE Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement.

At just 28, Eastman has worked at Edencraft since her family took over the business in 2016.

Already well-known in the industry for the manufacture of commercial-grade fibreglass fishing boats, in 2019 the business established its service centre, Edencraft Marine. This was followed by Edencraft Creative, the company's advanced manufacturing division. Eastman oversees each of the three divisions.

Proudly representing Australia at METS 2024 was the 2024 AIMEX Marine Industry Apprentice of the Year, Jade Ralph from Echo Marine Group. Jade, who has just completed her fourth year of a Mechanical Fitting Apprenticeship and holds her skipper's ticket and certificates in marine operations and engineering, was part of the AIMEX delegation attending the show and visiting the major Dutch shipyards.

Andrew Fielding, BIA Marine Jobs spokesperson, commented on the success of Australians on the international stage, saying "Australian ingenuity is renowned the world over. Our nation's manufacturers and marine businesses have a reputation for world leading quality from design to delivery.

"From motor yachts and winches to swim platforms, and game boat towers, Australia is exporting products to the world that are made to last for decades. What our association with the support of our members and partners is doing, is shoring up that pipeline of future workers and business owners, ensuring the continued success of our industry."

Key to this impetus is our love of the outdoors and aquatic lifestyle.

"The majority of Australians live within 50km of the coastline, so it's no surprise that boating is a major part of our culture," Andrew continued.

"There are literally thousands of amazing places to go boating and, given the size of our nation and its diverse climate, boating is a pastime that can be enjoyed year-round. From non-motorised watercraft to exciting watersports activities, sailing vessels to luxury motor yachts, getting out on the water is something that is enjoyed by one in five Australians with something available for all budgets, ages and capabilities."

This is why cultivating the next generation of talented marine trades and professionals is imperative.

"The future of our industry is reliant on a commitment from industry as a whole to support the promotion of jobs, skills and training," Andrew explained. "The BIA has recognised and championed this belief since its origins in the 1960s. The skills shortage is not going to get any better without a proactive and collaborative effort backed by long-term commitment and investment.

"Promotion of industry-wide opportunities to young people and job seekers has led to a significant increase in the number of people enquiring about marine jobs and careers. Partnering with the right marine businesses, educators and registered training organisations as well as building relationships with the education and training sector unpins the success that we are seeing in Australia."

In 2025, the BIA team calendar comprises dozens of events and initiatives, as Andrew outlines, "There are exciting things happening with our Marine Academy at The Industry School which is set to have 48 young people attending in 2025 all with an eye to taking up school-based apprenticeships in the marine industry.

"Our Gold Coast Marine Precinct Tours have been scheduled for careers advisors early in the year followed by the student tours, which were very successful in 2024. We are working closely with NSW Education and TAFE with a series of careers and jobs events planned for 2025 plus our very popular Sydney International Boat Show Careers Event which hosted 700 students over two days in 2024.

"In addition, we are looking forward to attending a number of careers events in all of our member States and have already started planning the 2025 Cairns Marine Jobs and Careers Expo, and Coomera Marine Jobs and Careers Expo. We are also very excited about some new initiatives that we will launch, the first being our BIA Mentor Program. It's time to start expanding our offerings and nurturing our newer industry colleagues and improving retention rates is a very important next step."

More information on BIA at www.bia.org.au.