46 | WATERLINE December 2025 MEMBERS NEW MEMBERS FIRST MATE First Mate is an Australian-developed app that helps boat owners manage vessel maintenance and records in one place. The platform allows users to track service schedules, safety checks, and documents, and provides reminders for upcoming tasks. Designed for both private and commercial vessels, First Mate supports efficient, well-documented maintenance practices and connects users with marine service providers across Australia. firstmate.com.au INUGO Inugo is a New Zealand-based company providing smart access and payment solutions for car parks and gated facilities. Their cloud-based platform connects hardware like cameras, kiosks, and gates, enabling seamless entry, payment, and exit via an app. Inugo helps operators automate access, manage payments, and monitor activity in real time. inugo.com HARRY WEST FLAGS Founded in 1908, Harry West Flags is Australia’s oldest flag maker, proudly crafting fully sewn, Australian-made flags from their workshop on Sydney Harbour. Supplying marinas, yacht clubs, and the boating community nationwide, they specialise in marine code flags, custom pennants, and durable outdoor flags built to withstand marine conditions. Their long history and close ties to the maritime community reflect a deep understanding of the needs of Australia’s marine industry. harrywestflags.com.au Across Australia, marinas, boatyards and marine manufacturers are finding it harder than ever to recruit the skilled people they need. From straddle carrier operators and boatyard painters to service technicians and marina managers, many vital roles are remaining vacant for extended periods. While labour shortages are being felt across many industries, the marina sector faces a unique obstacle: many of its skilled, handson roles are not listed on Australia’s skilled visa occupation lists. This means marinas and boatyards are often unable to access overseas workers through standard skilled migration programs, even when no local workers are available. Some businesses have managed to bring in overseas employees through alternative visa pathways, but these are typically complex, expensive, inconsistent and a stop-gap solution to an issue that continues to grow. The MIA has been exploring ways to support members in tackling this challenge. One potential solution under consideration is the development of an Industry Labour Agreement (ILA), a formal arrangement between the Department of Home Affairs, Department of Employment and an industry body such as the MIA. An ILA creates a dedicated migration pathway for specific occupations where there is a proven shortage. It acts as a preapproved framework that participating employers can use to sponsor overseas workers in defined roles, without the need to negotiate individual agreements. For marina and boatyard businesses, this could mean faster and more consistent access to skilled labour in key operational areas. However, it’s important to understand what an ILA would and would not do. It could make it easier and more affordable to employ overseas workers where Australian labour is not available and would set consistent industry standards for wages, employment conditions and compliance. But it would not remove the responsibility for recruitment. Each employer would still need to find suitable candidates and cover all associated costs, including migration agent fees & and government visa charges. Despite those costs, an ILA could deliver real benefits for the sector. It would provide recognition of the marina industry’s unique workforce needs at a national level, streamline the employment process for hard-to-fill roles and ensure ethical, transparent employment practices. For maintenance and service yards in particular, the agreement could be transformative, offering a practical way to fill specialised trade and equipment-handling positions that are becoming increasingly difficult to source domestically. Establishing an ILA, however, is no simple process. It requires detailed evidence gathering, data analysis, and formal negotiation with government agencies to demonstrate the genuine, ongoing nature of workforce shortages. The MIA would need to engage a specialist consultant and coordinate a national workforce survey. This work is estimated to cost between $50,000 and $60,000 and take six to twelve months to complete. Such an investment is beyond what the MIA can fund through its existing resources without impacting other member programs. The Board has therefore agreed that before any formal work proceeds, the association must confirm both the level of demand and the availability of member support to share the establishment costs. As a starting point, the MIA is seeking around ten businesses willing to contribute approximately $5,000 each to underwrite the project. Once the agreement is in place, it would become a national framework available to all eligible employers, whether or not they contributed financially, or are MIA members. The next step is for the MIA to build a clearer picture of the industry’s needs. Members are being asked to share details of any roles they have struggled to fill, the recruitment challenges they face, and any existing experience employing overseas workers. This information will help determine whether an Industry Labour Agreement is both justified and feasible for our sector. The MIA believes an ILA could potentially provide a meaningful benefit to the marina and boatyard industry by addressing one of its most pressing challenges, workforce capability. But success depends on collective interest and support. If there is sufficient demand and commitment, the MIA will take the next step of preparing a formal proposal to government. This initiative represents an opportunity for the industry to take proactive, coordinated action to strengthen its workforce for the future. Any members wishing to learn more or register their interest in supporting the project are encouraged to contact Chris Stone, MIA Operations Manager MIA, at: manager@marinas.net.au ADDRESSING THE LABOUR CHALLENGE: COULD AN INDUSTRY LABOUR AGREEMENT BE THE ANSWER? By Chris Stone, Operations Manager MIA
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI3ODI1