General Purpose Hand Near Coastal

Who is this course for?

This entry-level course is for people working or looking to work in the seafood or maritime industries. The General Purpose Hand (GPH) qualification is the minimum requirement to work on an Australian commercial vessel. GPH assists with deck or engine work on vessels up to 100m long (or 3000GT) within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone, under supervision.

Training & Assessment Overview:

The course is delivered in a flexible blended learning format, offering 24/7 access to theory components, allowing you to balance study with other commitments.

• Online theory modules
• On-campus practical assessments

Course Structure

The course is delivered in two parts:

MARSS00008 Shipboard Safety Skill

• Fire fighting
• Water survival

MAR10224 General Purpose Hand Near Coastal

• Boat practical
• Seamanship (ropes)
• Maintenance

Additional Requirements

All students are required to complete an Upfront Assessment of Need (UAN) and a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) test prior to enrolment. For further details, please refer to the UAN Guide available below.

• First Aid – HTLAID011 Provide first aid
• MARSS00008 Shipboard Safety Skill Set

Time Commitment

Theory: Self-paced online – Accessible for 12 months

• Shipboard Safety: 50 hours of online study
• GPH: Approximately 30 hours of online study

Practical: Conducted on campus (Mon – Fri)

• 4-day practical component covering both GPH and SSS
• If you already hold the Shipboard Safety Skill Set, practical is reduced to 2 days.

Fees & Inclusions

Fees are charged separately for:

• MARSS00008 Shipboard Safety Skill Set
• MAR10224 General Purpose Hand Near Coastal

Fee details and delivery schedules are available on the Timetable below.

Funding is available for students who meet the South Australian Government eligibility criteria.

Certification

Certification Upon successful completion, you’ll receive:

• MAR10224 Certificate I in Maritime Operations (General Purpose Hand Near Coastal)
• Statement of Attainment
• AMPA (AMSA Mandated Practical Assessment)

Pathway to General Purpose Hand Certificate of Competency (CoC)

Pathway to General Purpose Hand Certificate of Competency (CoC). This qualification is part of the regulatory pathway for working on Australian commercial vessels. For full details on your maritime career options, visit the AMSA website.

Note: The Academy delivers the educational component required to receive the relevant vocational qualification. However, students should be aware that most Academy courses require an application before a maritime licence is issued by AMSA. The Academy has no authority to deal with any matters that are handled by AMSA, including the calculation of sea time, the processing of applications for maritime licences and the fees charged. Students should contact AMSA directly to determine what they are required to do to obtain their maritime licence.

Units of Competency

National Code Unit Description

HLTAID011 Provide First Aid
MARB053 Assist with routine maintenance on a commercial vessel
MARF028 Follow procedures to minimise and fight fires on board a vessel
MARF029 Meet work health and safety requirements
MARF030 Survive at sea using survival craft
MARF060 Apply basic survival skills in the event of vessel abandonment
MARG012 Work as part of a crew on a commercial vessel
MARN016  Apply general purpose hand skills aboard a commercial vessel