Providing General Purpose Hand Training to enter the Maritime Industry with a certificate 1 Maritime Operations.
Providing General Purpose Hand Training to enter the Maritime Industry with a certificate 1 Maritime Operations.
Your support will enable us to help meet our goal to increase the number of Indigenous Australians trained and employed in Australia's maritime industry by 5% within 10 years.
Image: A graduate student from our first program was selected to attend the Conornation of HM King Charles III with The Hon Julie Bishop in May 2023. This photos shows other graduates from Prince's Trust programs within the Commonwelath who also attended.
In the 2020 closing the Gap Report form the Commonwealth it stated "a greater focus on partnership between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. At the centre of this new way of working is local action, and a determination to make a difference and to achieve change." This key statement is the cornerstone of the MV
In the 2020 closing the Gap Report form the Commonwealth it stated "a greater focus on partnership between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. At the centre of this new way of working is local action, and a determination to make a difference and to achieve change." This key statement is the cornerstone of the MV Cape Don maritime training program to create a new path where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are provided opportunity to learn, develop and succeed in a career within the maritime sector or merchant navy.
The target to halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade has not yet been met. Participation in employment provides financial and economic security and assists in opening the door to self-determination.
Employment status also has associations with outcomes for health, social and emotional wellbeing, and living standards (Bambra 2011; Gray et al. 2014; Marmot 2015).
This is why our program is important. In partnership with Government and industry we will create education pathways which will lead to traineeships, employment, careers resulting in social and economic change for Indigenous and Torres Straight Islanders.
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the National Agreement) was developed in genuine partnership between Australian Governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak organisations.
To accelerate improvements in life outcomes, programs and services need to be designed, developed and implemented in partnership with Aborigin
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the National Agreement) was developed in genuine partnership between Australian Governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak organisations.
To accelerate improvements in life outcomes, programs and services need to be designed, developed and implemented in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have called for a community-led, strengths-based approach, one that values their experience.
That is why in 2019, the Council of Australian Governments and the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations signed the Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap. This historic Partnership places Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as shared decision-makers at the table.
Through the Partnership, the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap is being developed to set out priorities for the next ten years and outline targets and measures that will enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to forge their own pathways and reach their goals.
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap has 17 national socio-economic targets across areas that have an impact on life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Sea Heritage Trust has identified the following 4 priority areas which we will be actively helping to close the GAP in.
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap has 17 national socio-economic targets across areas that have an impact on life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Sea Heritage Trust has identified the following 4 priority areas which we will be actively helping to close the GAP in.
https://www.pc.gov.au/closing-the-gap-data/dashboard
Socioeconomic Outcome Area 5:
Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander students achieve their full learning potential.
Socioeconomic Outcome Area 6:
Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander students achieve their full potential through further education pathways.
Socioeconomic Outcome Area 7:
Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander youth are engaged in employment or education.
Socioeconomic Outcome Area 8:
Strong economic participation and development of Aboriginal and Torre Straight Islander people and communities
At the Sea Heritage Foundation we have partnered with several key stakeholders to enrich our holistic immersive maritime student experience. Theory integrated with practical competency within the vocational course helps students develop job ready foundation life skills for a successful maritime career. Our experienced program partners are committed to providing the knowledge and hands-on training students need to excel as a general purpose hand.
If you are interested in supporting our program as an industry partner, please contact us via the contact page of the website.
Founder - Mr Derek St John Emerson-Elliott QC, LLB
Derek Emerson-Elliott was born in colonial Singapore in 1939, the son of an English Royal Naval Officer. Derek then settled in Australia and later travelled extensively with his family after the war, living in Malaya, England, Singapore, South Africa and Portugal.
During the term of the 16th Governor-General, Lord Casey KG, GCMG, CH, DSO, MC, PC (1965 to 1969), Derek served as an Aid-de-Camp to the Governor-General. He was later admitted as a barrister in the ACT Supreme Court and solicitor in 1970 followed by the NSW Supreme Court. During his time at Canberra Community Law, he was appointed an adjunct associate professor at the University of Canberra.
Derek was informed of the MV Cape Don sitting idle in Sydney harbour in the early 2000’s which reminded him of the days when he was a young boy, travelling between Asia and Australia during school holidays to see his parents in Singapore, sparking fond memories of the ships he sailed on.
Derek enquired into the ownership of the vessel, which appeared abandoned. To his surprise the ship had been detained by the Government for unpaid port fees by its owner. Subsequently Derek made an offer for the ship and later paid her debt to become the proud owner of the MV Cape Don.
This selfless act ensured that the last of the Cape Class Lighthouse Tenders would live on as a museum ship in recognition of the men and women who served in the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service and their families. Derek later founded the Sea Heritage Foundation Pty Ltd to oversee the management of the ship with the MV Cape Don Society Inc. formed to undertake the restoration of the ship.
In
Chairman of the Board of Governors - Dr CJ Manjarres-Wahlberg DBA, CRMgr, ProfNZISM, FICPEM, FCLP, AFIAMCS, MRSN, MRSNZ, AFRIN
I am a seasoned maritime and shipping management professional with over 20 years of experience spanning defence, private sector, and not-for-profit leadership. I hold a Doctorate in Maritime Safety, complemented by postgraduate qualifications in OHSE Management, Organisational Safety and Human Factors, Strategic Leadership, and Maritime and Shipping Management.
My career began in the Royal Australian Navy in the mid-1990s, where I served at sea on peacekeeping, humanitarian, and fisheries operations, concluding my military service in a joint command with the Australian Army. Transitioning to the private sector, I have since held senior roles in safety, emergency management, quality, and leadership across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, and Malaysia.
I currently serve as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Sea Heritage Foundation, a registered not-for-profit charity dedicated to preserving and restoring the historic MV Cape Don a static museum, training and research ship. This vessel stands as the centrepiece of the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service archive. Through the foundation, I work alongside volunteers and partners to ensure its restoration, diversification, and long-term sustainability.
I am Passionate about maritime history, education, and leadership. I also designed and implemented a social impact program that empowers Indigenous Australians to enter the marine industry as deckhands. Using a human-centred “learn-do” approach, the program creates immersive learning pathways and has been delivered in partnership with TAFE NSW, Kings Trust Australia and industry stakeholders, delivering both social and economic benefits. In 2026, we will offer an updated course format featuring several new industry partners.
In addition to my professional and community roles, I am a Distinguished Leadership Fellow, Social Impact Fellow, Chartered Risk Professional, Certified OHS Professional, and Associate Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation. I was also honoured to serve as an International Leadership Fellow with the College of St George at Windsor Castle, an experience that continues to shape my commitment to developing and inspiring leaders to act with purpose, vision, and integrity.
Paul Pokorny TMIEAust, MAIP, MIEEE, MMSA
Paul Pokorny has been associated with the MV Cape Don Society Inc. since commencing as a volunteer Electrician in 2011. Over the past few years Paul has also taken on the office bearer role as Secretary and for a time, Acting President.
In recent years Paul has also become a Director on the Board of Strategic Planning the Sea Heritage Foundation Pty Limited.
Professionally, Paul is Director and Engineering Manager of the NATA-accredited electrical testing laboratory company, Power System Support Pty Ltd since 2013, having spent the previous 15 years with the CSIRO/National Measurement Institute’s High Voltage Laboratory and the previous 20 years in a variety of technical and engineering positions in the electrical, electronic, scientific instrumentation and industrial production areas.
Paul has a Bachelor of Science (Maths & Physics) from Macquarie University, he is an accomplished violinist, being Concertmaster of the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra and Balmain Sinfonia, also playing with the Bourbaki Ensemble and The Metropolitan Orchestra along with regularly performing with chamber groups and musical societies.
Paul has and continues to play a significant leadership role with the MV Cape Don Society over the past 10 years as 2nd Electrical Engineering Officer onboard and continues to work selflessly as a dedicated member of the Board of Directors.
Board of Directors – Tracy Grover
Tracy has long held an interest in history, particularly transport and industrial history, and has used this interest to hone her research skills. She has volunteered with other transport heritage groups and enjoys not only the research side of things but also getting hands-on involvement in the restoration projects themselves.
After graduating high school Tracy gained qualifications in Audio Engineering and Film & Television Production (specialising in Audio). Due to the contract-type nature of work in this field, she wound up working in printing and ended up as a Pre-Press Specialist. She worked for 10 years as the manager of a pre-press department dealing with large manufacturing companies for industrial printing applications with an additional 5 years with the same company as a Technical Sales Representative.
She has worked with some of Australia's largest manufacturers, from pharmaceutical electronics, automotive, and Defence contractors, giving her particular skills at working within a compliance and ISO 9001 environment.
She now works part-time as a production manager and printer for an Australian wholesale PPE company. In you spare time Tracy is the MV Cape Dons volunteer ships writer responsible for administrative tasks within the ship office and on the MV Cape Don Society committee.
Advisors to the Board of Directors
Captain Melwyn Noronha – Maritime Affairs
Melwyn is a master mariner (class 1) who has decades of commercial seafaring experience on a wide range of cargo ships. He joined the team in 2015 as General Manager Technical Services and Industry Policy. In addition to providing a wide range of policy and maritime advice to industry, ministers and officials, Melwyn is familiar to the industry having organised and run a wide range of Shipping Australia committees, briefings, functions and events. A former shipping and ports administrator at state and federal government, Melwyn also brought a wealth of policy and administration experience to the team. He is also a graduate of the Australian Maritime College.
Commodore Charles Huxtable RAN - Maritiime & Government Affairs
Commodore Charles Huxtable grew up in Albury, NSW and joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1991. As a junior Seaman Officer Captain Huxtable served at sea in HMA Ships Derwent, Tobruk and Perth before undertaking the Principle Warfare Officer course, graduating as a Surface Warfare specialist. Postings to HMA Ships Darwin and Melbourne as Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer were followed in due course by command of the patrol boat HMAS Bunbury and the frigate HMAS Toowoomba.
Commodore Huxtable has served ashore in mainly operational and personnel-related positions. As a Captain he was Director of Navy Workforce Requirements at Navy Headquarters; Director Current Operations at Joint Operations Command; and Commanding Officer of HMAS Creswell at Jervis Bay before attending the Defence and Strategic Studies Course in 2019. On graduation he was promoted to Commodore and assumed duties as Commodore Training.
Commodore Huxtable has a variety of operational experience at sea and ashore including surveillance and border protection operations in Australia’s north, and deployments to the Middle East under Operations DAMASK, SLIPPER and CATALYST.
Commodore Huxtable is a graduate of India’s Defence Services Staff College, and holds degrees in International Relations, Defence Studies and Business Administration. He is Patron of ADF Rowing, enjoys cycling and spending time with his children.
