Sea Change Sealed
The Age
Wednesday March 21, 2007
STEVEN COULTER had intended to work with cars but after dipping his toe in the water, he's opted for a career in boats.
Having started a mechanical engineering degree, the 19-year-old from Cheltenham decided that after a year, the course "wasn't for me"."It just didn't appeal to me - I wanted to get outdoors," he says.That was when he stumbled across the Boating Industry Association of Victoria's website and spotted an advertisement calling for people to enter the industry.The idea appealed to him and Mr Coulter approached the association about work. In January he started work at The Boat Clinic, a boat repair and maintenance business based in Sandringham. In April, he will start a four-year apprenticeship in marine craft construction."It's hard work but I'm enjoying it," he says.Mr Coulter is one of 12 people the association has matched to jobs within the recreational boating industry under a project launched last October.The trial project, which is being funded through the State Government's Workforce Participation Partnerships program, runs until December. Under its terms, 20 people must be placed in sustainable work - which equates to someone being employed for 30 hours a week for 16 weeks - within the industry.The project is part of a broader effort by the association to encourage more people into the industry.Christopher Keegan, the project's manager, says the industry has faced several problems in attracting new people. Many jobs simply aren't advertised - a trend he attributes to the small, often family-owned, nature of many of the businesses in the industry. That lack of available qualified people means companies often take employees from each other to fill their needs.The seasonal nature of the industry is also a problem, as is training, with some courses not available in Victoria or provided on an ad hoc basis.Mr Keegan says that not only are efforts being undertaken to address some of the training issues but there is a general push to promote the industry as an "employer of choice"."It's obvious that the industry hasn't really done a very good job of promoting itself as a fairly diverse and active industry," he says.Mr Keegan says he has about 60 positions to fill. The jobs most in demand include diesel mechanics, welders and metal workers who can work on the construction of aluminium trailers.In an indication of the size of the industry, there are 87 yacht clubs in Victoria and about 160,000 registered powered vessels.The industry is estimated to be worth almost $2 billion to the state's economy.The diversity of jobs is impressive. As well as tradespeople - from boatbuilders to engine mechanics to cabinet and sail makers - the industry includes people working in boat storage and transportation, chandlers and specialist equipment suppliers and professional services such as insurance.Teresa Lyons, who runs the Boat Clinic with her husband Shane, says she has had considerable trouble trying to find someone to fill the job Mr Coulter is now doing."Over the years, I would say I've had horrendous problems filling jobs," she says.Ms Lyons, who has been working in the industry for about 14 years (her husband has been in the industry for more than 20 years), says while some are put off by the physically demanding work, there's also a lack of understanding about the opportunities within the industry.She says that the message needs to go out that the recreational boating industry is "not a cottage industry any more" but is growing and can provide long-term careers.Ms Lyons says not only do people in the industry get to work outside with boats, there's also the opportunity to get out on the water from time to time."There's always a lot of boats that are wanting crew," she says. "And (people) don't need to have a background in boating, they can learn it as they go along. It's a whole different world that most people wouldn't be exposed to or even know about."-- DAVID ADAMSContactBoating Industry Association of Victoriabiavic.com.au
© 2007 The Age