Airlie Beach, QLD
Cruise Whitsundays
The employer’s employment page links to a Deckhand application. Open the full advert for current availability and required certificates. Pay and ongoing staff housing are not confirmed.
AUSTRALIA · JOB GUIDE
Deckhand jobs in Australia
Work on deck, help prepare vessels and support passenger journeys. Some operators train new crew; many need existing boating experience and certificates.
Illustrative photo
This could suit you if…
You enjoy practical outdoor tasks and want experience preparing vessels and supporting a skipper.
The trade-offs
Ropes, moving equipment and changing conditions demand care. Living aboard during a trip does not necessarily provide accommodation on days off.
What would I actually do?
Deckhands prepare and clean vessels, help with ropes and departures, assist the skipper and support safe passenger journeys. The balance depends on the vessel and operation.
Small charters may combine deck work with cooking or guest service. Day boats return to a regular base; overnight charters mean living aboard during the trip, which is different from having accommodation on days off.
This is practical outdoor work around moving boats and equipment. Directly supervised entry duties and work requiring a certificate of competency are different routes; the requirements tab explains the distinction.
What do I need before applying?
AMSA distinguishes direct supervision from general supervision. A GPH certificate permits deck and engine assistance under general supervision; specified directly supervised work can be performed without it.
For a new GPH, AMSA lists a Certificate I course, five days of commercial-vessel sea service, current first aid and medical fitness requirements. Confirm the exact job and certificates with the operator before buying training. A course completion certificate and an issued certificate of competency are not interchangeable.
Courses & training
GPH course — TAFE Queensland
TAFE Queensland’s MAR10224 Certificate I in Maritime Operations (General Purpose Hand Near Coastal) teaches basic seamanship, crew work and survival skills at its North Queensland maritime college. The listing shows a two-week campus course and a full fee of AUD 2,360; subsidised prices have separate eligibility. Course dates are intake-based.
TAFE Queensland General Purpose Hand course
Turn the course into the right certificate
AMSA separately sets the certificate-of-competency requirements, including sea service, first aid and fitness. Its application checklist explains the evidence needed for each requirement. Completing the course alone is not the same as holding the issued certificate.
AMSA GPH certificate checklist
First aid and CPR — St John
St John offers HLTAID011 general first aid and HLTAID009 CPR around Australia. Courses include practical assessment, and some use online preparation before the classroom session. Its state booking pages list local sessions and fees.
St John Victoria: first-aid course example
HLTAID011 Provide First Aid: $199 for 4.75 hours in class plus pre-learning, or $225 for 7.75 hours in class without pre-learning. These are Victorian options; choose a listed venue and date. First aid is relevant when the role requires it, rather than a universal entry qualification.
St John Victoria course and locations · checked 23 October 2026.
Which companies can I contact?
Official recruitment routes checked 17 October 2026. Read the role details for current vacancies and work-rights requirements.
Airlie Beach, QLD
ISail Whitsundays
Combined deckhand/cook work for applicants with boating experience, first-aid and oxygen credentials and Coxswain Grade 3. The published commitment is 6–12 months.
Hayman Island · Queensland
InterContinental Hayman Island
Search IHG careers for Hayman Island and marine or deckhand roles supporting resort transfers and boat operations. Marine qualifications and experience depend on the position.
Australian ferry and tourism operations
SeaLink — marine and tourism
Direct recruitment across deck, hospitality and customer-service teams. Select a named operation: ferry work and tourism charters can have different rosters and qualifications.
How to apply
Put boating experience, vessel types, sea-service days and current certificates near the top of your CV. Include practical work such as mooring, cleaning, meal preparation and helping passengers; these duties often share the same roster.
Give your available months and home port. ISail’s combined cook/deckhand route specifies a 6–12-month commitment, while day-boat recruitment is tied to the operator’s regular base.
What can you earn?
For day-charter work covered by the Marine Tourism and Charter Vessels Award, crew pay starts at $32.18 an hour casual and rises to $34.89 after three months. Crew duties can include deck work and passenger hospitality.
| Day-charter crew | Casual hourly minimum | Permanent hourly minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 — first three months | $32.18 | $25.74 |
| Level 2 — after three months | $34.89 | $27.91 |
Rates from 1 July 2026, before tax and excluding super. Casual loading is included. Crew aged 20 and over receive the full rate; younger crew have age-based rates. These ordinary-hours figures do not cover every ferry operation or overnight charter.
Sources & further reading
isailwhitsundays.com — careers
amsa.gov.au — general purpose hand near coastal
amsa.gov.au — supervisory definitions
cruisewhitsundays.com — employment
Employer information and requirements checked 17 October 2026. Recruitment pages may change; confirm the terms of your own role.
Check specified-work requirements for your visa
Course providers and qualification pathways
Training information checked 17 October 2026. Compare the full fee, study dates and eligibility for your situation.
SeaLink — marine and tourism — official recruitment · checked 17 October 2026