A group of students from Kirwan High School have a better idea of the responsibilities associated with running a high functioning organisation after a recent briefing from Northern Stevedoring Services (NSS).
It is the latest in a series of site tours organised with the Clontarf Foundation which is a school-based education and mentoring program that works to build both personal and academic strengths.
Main image: Clontarf Foundation’s Kirwan High School contingent with NSS Stevedoring manager Scott Neame far right.
NSS Stevedoring Manager Scott Neame told the group there were many working parts to the operation.
“NSS is one of the largest operations of its type in regional Queensland involving transport, stevedoring and logistics,” he said.
“There is the range of equipment from prime movers to reach stackers to excavators and everything in between. We need people to operate and maintain this fleet.
“This is a part of a bigger eco-system of supply, discharge, export and storage that NSS offers. To say nothing about the scheduling of ships and meeting timelines.
“We train our staff to be responsive, thorough and show the appropriate urgency. Every one of our staff is valued because each one is acknowledged for the contribution they make.”
Clontarf Employment Officer for North Queensland Nathan Murphy said they wanted to give the students exposure to as many options as possible on leaving school.
The NSS tours were proving to be a valuable option, Mr Murphy said.
“We don’t want the boys coming out at the end of year 12 and having no idea what they want to do. So we try and expose them to as many different employment opportunities as possible.
“The boys really enjoyed it, gives them a good opportunity to have a look around at the port and the wharves and see the work that NSS does down there.
“I think a lot of our boys really like the hands-on work that’s needed there in NSS. They like working outdoors. Townsville is a place that’s directly linked to the sea and a lot of our boys have those same sort of links. So that outdoor work really gets their enthusiasm.”
Clontarf has four academies in Townsville.