If you’re planning to work on yachts or commercial charter boats in Australia and later worldwide, completing your STCW Basic Safety Training locally is one of the most straightforward ways to meet employer and regulatory expectations.
Australia has a well-established maritime training system, and STCW courses delivered here are widely accepted for yacht crew roles both domestically and internationally. For many crew, training in Australia feels familiar, structured, and easier to navigate — especially when you’re just starting out.
This page focuses specifically on where and how STCW training works in Australia, and how it fits into starting a yacht career from an Australian base.
Completing STCW Training in Australia
STCW Basic Safety Training in Australia is delivered through approved maritime training providers and is required before you can legally work on most yachts and commercial vessels.
Australian-based crew often choose to complete STCW locally so they can:
- Train under familiar safety standards
- Avoid unnecessary travel at the start of their career
- Prepare properly before applying for yacht jobs
For anyone researching how to get a yacht crew job, STCW is usually the first qualification employers expect to see on your CV.
Why Many Crew Choose to Train in Australia
Australia is home to a large number of entry-level yacht crew candidates, particularly those looking to work seasonally overseas or transition into international yachting.
Completing STCW training in Australia allows crew to finish their mandatory safety certification before heading into competitive job markets. This is especially useful if you plan to dockwalk or apply for jobs shortly after qualifying.
Australian training providers focus heavily on practical competence — making sure crew can follow procedures, work safely on board, and respond correctly in emergencies.
What STCW Training in Australia Covers
STCW Basic Safety Training in Australia includes five core modules delivered over several intensive training days. These modules are practical, hands-on, and designed to reflect real onboard expectations.
Personal Survival Techniques
This module focuses on abandon-ship procedures, use of life rafts, immersion suits, and basic survival skills. Training takes place in controlled environments and prepares crew for emergency evacuation scenarios.
Fire Prevention and Firefighting
Crew are trained to identify fire risks on board, use firefighting equipment correctly, and operate safely while wearing breathing apparatus during fire response exercises.
Elementary First Aid
This module covers basic first aid and CPR, helping crew respond to medical incidents on board until professional help becomes available.
Personal Safety and Social Responsibility
Training includes safe working practices, understanding onboard roles, environmental awareness, and maintaining professional behaviour in shared living and working spaces — particularly relevant for crew entering deck or interior roles.
Security Awareness
Security awareness training teaches crew how to recognise and report security risks while following correct onboard procedures.
What You Need Before Starting STCW in Australia
Before enrolling in STCW Basic Safety Training in Australia, you must hold a valid ENG1 medical certificate. This confirms you are medically fit to work at sea and is required by yacht employers.
STCW training is physically active. While you don’t need prior experience, being comfortable in water and prepared for practical exercises will make the course much easier.
How STCW Fits Into Yacht Careers from Australia
Once STCW training is completed, Australian crew typically move into job preparation and department-specific pathways.
Those interested in deck roles often continue by learning how to become a yacht deckhand, while others explore interior roles and how to become a yacht stewardess.
All of this training sits within a broader framework of yacht crew training and certification, which supports long-term career progression.
Why Australian Crew Use Yachtiecareers
Yachtiecareers supports Australian crew with clear training pathways, realistic expectations, and guidance that aligns with what yacht employers actually look for.
Whether you plan to work locally or head overseas after qualifying, completing your STCW training from an Australian base allows you to start prepared, confident, and employable.
If you’re starting your yacht career from Australia, STCW training is the first practical step that turns intention into opportunity.
