Logistics company Sea Swift outlines plan to boost Aboriginal jobs in the Northern Territory

More than 15 per cent of the company’s workforce is Indigenous. However, that figure is set to rise, with the company planning to bolster its Aboriginal recruitment over the next 12 months.

Logistics company Sea Swift is ramping up efforts to boost its Indigenous workforce. Picture: Sea Swift.

A leading freight and logistics company plans to increase its Indigenous workforce by 10 per cent within the next 12 months, citing local knowledge and diversity as a key company focus.

From this month, Sea Swift will boost efforts in recruiting Indigenous candidates following the launch of its new ‘local jobs, local people’ employment program.

With Sea Swift having provided services to coastal and remote communities since 1987, executive chairman Chris Pearce said his company was in a unique position to support First Nation families.

“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,” he said.

Currently, more than 15 per cent of Sea Swift’s workforce are Indigenous. Picture: Sea Swift

Currently, the company employs more than 520 staff with 15 per cent of its workforce Indigenous.

The program aims to increase Sea Swift’s Indigenous workforce by 10 per cent by the end of the 2024-2025 financial year.

Mr Pearce said Sea Swift valued the local knowledge possessed by its First Nations members.

“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,” he said.

The program will accept school leavers, with traineeships offered to those without marine qualifications to obtain the relevant certificates and skills needed for a career at sea.

Trainees available to trainees include a career as a coxswain, engineers and more. Picture: Sea Swift

Trainees have the option to pursue a role as a coxswain, engineer, master or integrated rating, while gaining valuable experience both at sea and ashore.

Further, Mr Pearce said trainees would earn a wage throughout their traineeship.

“We enthusiastically encourage an ‘earn while you learn’ initiative, and welcome those with all levels of experience to join Sea Swift,” he 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 safety, teamwork, accountability, respect and service.”

The new recruitment goal is not the only initiative recently rolled out by the company, with Sea Swift having also acquired three new vessels to its fleet.

“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.