Port Welfare Committees

A PWC consists of regional or State representatives from welfare providers, industry, government and unions, with a common goal of providing quality onshore seafarer welfare facilities in their port.

While there are many similarities, each port is different in the way it operates and caters for the welfare of international seafarers. The PWC will work together to discuss and resolve seafarer welfare issues at the respective ports.

ASWC organises a joint PWC forum on an annual basis, providing all PWCs and ASWC members the opportunity to share experiences and provide advice on seafarer welfare matters.

Port Welfare Committees by State

Currently there are 18 PWCs located at various Australian ports.

NSW

Newcastle

Chair: Vikas Bangia
Email: vbangia@portauthoritynsw.com.au
Vice Chair: Nathan Juchau
Email: njuchau@ncig.com.au

Sydney

Chair: Lawrie Coda
Email: lcoda@portauthority.com.au

NT: Darwin
Darwin Port Welfare Committee

QLD

Brisbane

Chair: Ross Nicholls
Email: rkandvg@gmail.com
Deputy Chair: Sarah Maguire
Email: sarah.maguire@mua.org.au

Gladstone

Chair: John Fallon
Email: john.a.fallon@msq.qld.gov.au

Mackay/Haypoint

Chair: TBA

SA: Flinders/Adelaide
Chair: Carl Kavina
Email: carl.kavina@fphgroup.com.au

TAS

Burnie

Chair: Zachary Williams
Email: zachary.williams@tasports.com.au

Hobart

Chair: Prudence Cunningham
Email: prudence.cunningham@tasports.com.au

VIC

Geelong

Chair: TBA

Melbourne

Chair: Matt Purcell
Email: matt.purcell@mua.org.au

WA

Fremantle

Chair: Savio Fernandes (Harbour Master)
Email: savio.fernandes@fremantleports.com.au
Vice Chair: Ian Bray, ITF
Email: bray_ian@itf.org.uk

Port Hedland

Chair: Behrouz Daeizadeh (Harbour Master)
Email: behrouz.daeizadeh@pilbaraports.com.au

Geraldton

Chair: Heathcliff Pimento
Email: heathcliff.pimento@midwestports.com.au

Interested in setting up a Port Welfare Committee?

Establishing a PWC comes down to finding the right representatives — it is essential to find those who support and understand seafarers needs and have knowledge of and connections in local ports.