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A Portland man is about to embark on a voyage of a lifetime.
Westvic Staffing Solutions client Adam Cheyne will next month set sail on an all expenses paid trip on board the HMB Endeavour.
Mr Cheyne has been chosen as an Indigenous Australian participant on the trip but it won’t be a free vacation. Instead he will be working hard to learn to sail 18th century style just like Captain Cook did.
His application was supported by Westvic Staffing Solutions.
Mr Cheyne is looking forward to being a part of history that few Australians get to appreciate. “It will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me,” he said.
Not only will it be a grand adventure on the high sea, it will also be an employment training opportunity for Mr Cheyne who is seeking a career on the ocean.
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He will be trained by experienced sailing crews who will deliver lectures throughout the voyage. Topics include navigation, meteorology, sail handling and tall ship sailing.
Mr Cheyne, who has a background in army training and service, sees the voyage as an opportunity to boost his confidence and employability.
The nine-day voyage from Portland to Hobart from March 13 fulfils a long-held ambition for Adam. “When Westvic asked if I was interested I said definitely. I used to see the Endeavour in Sydney when I was in the army and thought how good it would be to have a chance to sail on it,” he said. Adam spent six years in the army before leaving in 2000.
Mr Cheyne is currently unemployed but hopes the trip, along with a coxswain course he is about to undertake at South West TAFE, will put him in good stead for a job on a local fishing or charter boat.
He has been getting a taste for life on the high seas by volunteering for work experience with a local fishing boat.
“I have done a couple of days on a local boat and hope to get more experience with them,” Adam said. “The first day churned up my stomach a little bit but I was fine by the second day,” he said.
“Going across Bass Strait could be a bit hairy but it will be great opportunity. Learning how to sail a tall ship and sleeping in hammocks will be a terrific experience.”
Westvic has also referred Mr Cheyne to the Portland Coast Guard for further development and training as an active member of the organisation.
Upon the completion of his training, Westvic will help Mr Cheyne to target potential employers. |
Mr Coverdale said demand for training had increased with a growing awareness of the quality of the services.”We have developed training programs especially for the needs of jobseekers requiring a more flexible approach to skills development,” he said.
Westvic has succeeded in its aim of better integrating its programs to strengthen services to customers and set a foundation for growth in coming years.
It has also collaborated with other agencies in successful programs such as In2Dairy and developed the workplace learning coordinator program in the Glenelg and Southern Grampians regions.
“We have continued to develop an appreciation of the employment and training marketplace to identify opportunities that match the needs of people and to build business to sustain our operations,” Mr Coverdale said.
The year ended on a strong financial footing as a result of increased business activity. Mr Coverdale said this would enable the Westvic Foundation to distribute more than $100,000 to support the local community.
Acting Chairperson Henry Bongers said improved networking within the organisation had created better outcomes for jobseekers wishing to further their employment and training opportunities.
Mr Bongers said Westvic had met or surpassed its targets in key areas of operation.
