On Board the Young Endeavour with Leading Seaman Rebecca Churches

The Top Ender had the opportunity to catch up with Leading Seaman Rebecca Churches from the Young Endeavour during a recent visit to the Top End! We had some questions for Rebecca to celebrate International Women's Day and her amazing adventures within defence.  

How long have you been in the Navy? 7 ½ years.

How long have you been posted to The Young Endeavour? 1 ½ years.

Why did you decide to enlist into the Navy? To explore a world outside of my hometown, to challenge myself and jump headfirst into an unknown environment. I selected Navy specifically due to the travelling element of life at sea.

What is your job within defence?  I am a Hydrographic Surveyor, so I have spent most of my career in Cairns. My most recent postings before embarking on the Young Endeavour, were HMAS Leeuwin and HMAS Shepparton.

What has been a highlight of your Navy career so far?  Anything that involved volunteering my time to assist people. In particular, volunteering in the smallest school in Tonga in 2022, painting classrooms, tidying the schoolyard and getting to know the teachers and students. 

What has been the biggest challenge within your defence career? Being away from my family for long periods. My family and I are extremely close, so being away from them has been the hardest part about the defence lifestyle.

What enticed you to apply to be on The Young Endeavour?  My Mum mentioned the Young Endeavour to me when I enlisted, and I liked the sound of the program. I am also studying a Bachelor of Education (Primary) part time, so once I learned more about the nature of the YE program, it soon became a career goal of mine to become a staff member onboard.

What is involved in the application process for YE? Initially, you can express and interest in YE to your career and posting manager. A suitability test is required before posting, which consists of an 11-13 day job interview where you integrate with the youth crew for a voyage. You dive headfirst into the program and are assessed on soft skills with the youth, which helps to determine your suitability for a 2-year posting onboard. If deemed suitable and positions are available, a posting action will soon follow.

What’s your main role on board? My position title is 2^nd Boatswain. This involves a shared responsibility of maintenance on survival equipment, running rigging, sails and any additional auxiliary roles required of me. My specific roles whilst on voyage are either as a Watch Leader or Watch Officer.

How long are you at sea for during each voyage? Voyages range anywhere from 10 – 13 days. Our crew usually follow a routine of two voyages ‘on’ and one ‘off’.

What is your favourite aspect of this posting? The Youth. For me, I relate everything back to them. They deserve the very best out of the program we deliver, and the impression you can have in the space of 10 – 13 days on the youth crew is something I don’t take lightly. Seeing youth grow throughout the voyage; their confidence levels increase, and young adults are provided the space to be young again without the pressure of technology or the challenges that the ‘real world’ forces upon us. 

Do the “youthies” who struggle with seasickness usually come good after a while? As though time on board gets your body used to the motion?

Yes, we tell them to hug a tree when they get shore, and this is the ultimate cure for seasickness. 99% of youthies come good after stepping ashore and after a good night's sleep.

For someone who’s never set foot on a boat before, what would you say to calm their nerves when joining a voyage?

The hardest step is the courage it takes to apply for something new and unknown. By doing that, they’ve already achieved one of the hardest steps. Remember that there are probably another 23 people feeling the exact same way; nervous, excited and anxious. The crew are well trained, approachable and always have safety at the forefront of their minds - trust those around you and dive headfirst into the experience.

What would you say to anyone thinking of applying to be part of the crew?

Expect to work harder than you ever have before and be exhausted. Also, expect to enjoy the work because it means making an impact and providing the youth with an incredible program, something that can only be achieved with hard work, a positive team ethos and passion!