Feature
Issue No. 40 - April/ /
Naval Reserve Innovation
Even before it formally joined the navy our newest Armidale-class patrol boat, now HMAS Glenelg, called in to Port Lincoln to promote a clever scheme for sharing the country’s skilled marine workforce.
The Royal Australian Naval Reserve always needs trained technical sailors to keep ships’ companies up to strength. Fishing is a seasonal occupation, with extensive down-time.
So the Defence Reserves Support organization used Glenelg, on display at Brennen Jetty, to invite trade-trained marine engineers from the local fishing fleet to consider sustainable supplementary employment in the Naval Reserve.
DRS-SA chairman Peter Summers says the initiative is a win-win for Port Lincoln’s fishing industry and the Defence Force.
“Many of the jobs in the fishing industry are seasonal and there can be significant periods that work is difficult to find. This will enable those with time available to offer their services for roles on Navy ships and to earn an income when they may not have one otherwise,” Peter says.
“The DRS-SA organization believes this new concept of sharing a scarce but skilled workforce will benefit all. Employees can have access to year-round employment and employers will be rewarded with staff with enhanced skills and qualifications gained through Reserve duty.”
Peter says the national trend to full employment affects the defence forces as well as business. Shortage of technical trades such as marine technicians and electricians is of particular concern to the Navy but last year all three services asked Defence Reserve Support for help. DRS-SA responded by looking at industries that employed categories of expertise Defence could share.
“Port Lincoln was an obvious choice, having the largest fishing fleet in Australia and although the Navy usually employs ex-permanent Navy personnel in the Naval Reserve they have moved with significant enthusiasm to embrace the concept of ab initio recr...
