DIVE SAFETY STRATEGY LAUNCHED

Some 165 seafood harvest divers are undertaking training to improve their skills and safety at Tropical North Queensland TAFE.

Member for Mulgrave, Warren Pitt, today launched the $2.8 million Work Safe Dive Safe strategy on behalf of Education and Training Minister Rod Welford.

“Work Safe Dive Safe is about ensuring divers are equipped and qualified to carry out their work in line with best practice,” Mr Pitt said.

“This State Government training project will give divers access to quality, affordable training and the chance to gain Workplace Health and Safety compliance.

“The training is open to experienced Queensland harvest divers, primarily those from the crayfish, aquarium, aquaculture and sea cucumber sectors.

“It will give nationally recognised safety training for both SSBA (surface supply breathing apparatus) and SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) divers across a number of locations in Queensland until October 2008.

“An estimated 600 divers are expected to undertake the training.”

Mr Welford said the State Government created Work Safe Dive Safe to help Queensland’s occupational harvest divers meet new health and safety regulations.

“In May 2005 the we amended the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 1997 in response to calls for greater diver safety,” Mr Welford said.

“This comprehensive training program addresses these new regulations by giving recognition of prior learning and gap training for experienced divers.

“Providing training in areas of demand such as harvest diving is an essential element of our Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan.

“The Queensland Skills Plan is revitalising the vocational education and training system to fill the demand for a skilled workforce.”

Work Safe Dive Safe was funded through the State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative and delivered through an innovative public-private partnership by Tropical North Queensland TAFE, IRES Remote Corporate Services and The Underwater Centre Tasmania.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000