MARITIME charities preparing for a seafarers’ welfare conference in Sydney have called for industry support ahead of the event.
Presented by Mission to Seafarers and Stella Maris, the regional conference in November will bring together seafarers’ welfare providers from across Australia and New Zealand.
However, after a financially challenging two years, the charities are requesting support from the maritime industry to cover attendance costs for some delegates.
Sue Dight, Mission to Seafarers’ interim regional director for Australia and PNG, told DCN seafarers’ welfare providers in ports around Australia have been doing it tough in recent years.
“Both Stella Maris and Mission to Seafarers have utilised all of our human and financial resources to continue to care for the seafarers during these difficult times,” she said.
“We are asking the industry to support for our conference so we can get together to re-engage, reflect, and move towards a bigger future in the provision of services that support the workforce we all rely so heavily upon.”
Talks and meetings will be structured around topics such as social justice, future models of service delivery, port welfare committees, ESG goals, Australian Seafarers Welfare Council sustainable funding models and future plans.
Ms Dight said the needs of seafarers are evolving as shipping, transport and logistics sectors change.
“We will be discussing the changes to industry, their needs, and how and where we will be proving services in the future.
“The conference is an opportunity for centre managers, chaplains, and volunteers from Stella Maris and Mission to Seafarers to gather to discuss best practice, forge working partnerships and hear from global representatives on what is working in countries.”
Ms Dight said the opening morning of the conference will feature a presentation from Mission to Seafarers secretary general Reverend Canon Andrew Wright.
A meeting among chairs of Australia’s port welfare committees will be held during the conference, as well as an Australian Seafarers’ Welfare Council meeting.
“By sponsoring a delegate from your state to participate, as little as $500 will go a long way to helping us to regroup.”
The conference will be held from 23 until 26 November at the Mary MacKillop centre in Sydney.
To donate, visit www.mts.org.au/donations. For more information about the conference or sponsorships, contact Sue Dight on +61 408 532 506.
