Leading freight and logistics company Sea Swift is taking a bold step to boost local employment and training opportunities with the launch of its new ‘Local Jobs, Local People’ initiative.
The program is designed to build local skills and fuel economic growth in Northern Australia. Currently with over 15% First Nations employment, Sea Swift aims to increase local employee numbers by a further 10% across Sea Swift’s operations by the end of the 2024-2025 financial year.
Sea Swift currently employs more than 520 staff and has been delivering freight to some of the most remote parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory for more than 35 years.
A key focus of the ‘Local Jobs, Local People’ program is to tap into local knowledge of the region and champion diversity by encouraging women and First Nations people from Northern Australia and the Torres Strait to apply.
“In a region where options for training and career development are often limited, Sea Swift is excited about the opportunity to engage with communities and welcome more local people to our team,” Sea Swift Executive Chairman Chris Pearce said.
“Our company operates 365 days a year to deliver essential goods for our communities and we recognise the knowledge of local First Nations people in delivering safely and efficiently, despite challenging conditions in which we operate.
The ‘Local Jobs, Local People’ program offers comprehensive traineeships, providing opportunities for school leavers and those without marine qualifications to obtain the relevant certificates and skills needed for a career at sea. Sea Swift has two intakes per year for trainees to align with TAFE and University courses.
As they build their qualifications, trainees can work towards a career as a coxswain, engineer, master or Integrated Rating, while gaining hands-on experience both on vessels at sea and onshore within the depot.
Sea Swift currently has 17 trainees in the business who are at various stages of their training.
“We enthusiastically encourage an ‘earn while you learn’ initiative, and welcome those with all levels of experience to join Sea Swift,” Mr Pearce said.
“With a great connection to the communities we service and with our customers, Sea Swift is a dynamic workplace, with a strong focus on our values, being STARS (Safety, Teamwork, Accountability, Respect, Service).
Sea Swift’s expansion also includes the addition of new vessels, including the recently added Newcastle Bay, King River Tug and Bhagwan Mover.
“With new vessels, we’re not just growing our business—we’re opening doors for more local talent to step into dynamic, long-term careers,” Mr Pearce said.
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