
Maritime Gap Year
Make a splash with a Maritime Gap Year! Grow in your faith, develop your maritime skills, and reach some of the most isolated communities on earth with our training and medical ship in Papua New Guinea.
The Maritime Gap Year includes a unique combination of discipleship, outreach, travel, real hands-on maritime experience, and training that will help launch your career in the maritime industry.
How it works

Step 1: January – June: Build your foundations
10802NAT – Certificate III in Discipleship
The first five months of your journey will begin in sunny Townsville, Australia where you will do a YWAM Discipleship Training School (DTS). During the first half of the course, you will learn about different topics each week from experienced speakers.
Topics include:
- The Nature and Character of God
- Hearing God’s Voice
- Identity
- Relationships
- Biblical Worldview
- Living a Missional Life
In addition to receiving transformational discipleship and strong biblical teaching, you will have the opportunity to go on outreach to apply what you’ve learnt in communities in Australia and/or Papua New Guinea. The DTS includes 13 weeks of lectures, and nine weeks of outreach in Australia and/or Papua New Guinea.
Step 2: July – December: Maritime Missions and Learning
During the next six months of your gap year, you will have the opportunity to complete an Introduction to Maritime Operations course. The training will be delivered online and on the job.
This course will give you the opportunity to get real hands-on experience both at our campus in Townsville, and aboard our Training and Medical Ship in Papua New Guinea during outreach to remote communities.
While serving with the team at the campus and on board the vessel, you will learn how to operate and maintain propulsion and auxiliary marine engine systems, plan and navigate a passage, operate inboard and outboard motors, survive at sea, provide first aid, prevent and fight fires, and follow workplace health and safety requirements, all while working with a diverse and passionate team from all over the globe!

Dates and Cost
Dates
2022
30 January – 16 December 2022
Cost
Course fee: $9,490 AUD*
Outreach travel expenses & food and accommodation during outreach: $4,000 – $5,800 AUD
Your fees include all of the training you will receive during the DTS and the Introduction to Maritime Operations course. Your course fee includes all your meals, accommodation, wifi, laundry facilities, transport, an Australian wildlife experience (meet a koala and feed kangaroos!), and use of our campus facilities including library, computers, lecture rooms, chapel, courtyard, and cafe – right in the heart of the city, close to the beach, restaurants, and shops.
Your outreach fee includes all of your meals, flights, accommodation, transport, t-shirt, any extra visas, insurance, and field supplies.
*Does not include travel costs to and from Townsville, food or accommodation between courses, visa, health insurance, and immunisations. Additional travel costs may be added for outreaches further abroad during your DTS.
Accreditation
10802NAT – Discipleship Training School
On completion of all 6 units of the course you will obtain a Certificate III in Discipleship.
DSPREL001 – Develop relationship with God
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to successfully respond to the truth that God makes Himself known to all people and to God’s grace in initiating relationship. It requires the ability to gain life-changing understanding of who God is and how He communicates through the Bible, prayer, and worship in order to adjust beliefs and behaviours.
DSPDCC002 – Develop Christian Character
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to make responsible decisions that bring joy to God and glorify Him in response to God’s holiness, lordship and love. It requires the ability to live in right relationship with God and others. It also requires the ability to recognise Jesus’ authority and respond in surrender and dependence in all areas of life.
DSPYWM003 – Contribute to a Youth With a Mission community
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to successfully contribute to an international, apostolic missions community of Youth With A Mission. It requires the ability to understand Youth With A Mission’s purpose, beliefs and values to make a positive contribution to the community. It also requires the ability to live in right relationship with God, authorities and others.
DSPSPA004 – Practice spiritual authority
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to exercise the authority every believer has to make a significant contribution for spiritual breakthrough. It requires the ability to walk in spiritual authority through intercession, worship and strategic prayer. It also requires the ability to recognise the activity and influence of Satan and the authority given to every believer through Jesus Christ.
DSPEVA005 – Contribute to evangelism
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to successfully proclaim the truth that God pursues the lost and desires all to be saved through Jesus Christ. It requires the ability to communicate God’s truth in a way that demonstrates His character. It also requires the ability to show God’s love through acts of compassion.
DSPPCM006 – Participate in a Christian missions outreach team
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to make a meaningful contribution towards the completion of the Great Commission through serving in a Christian missions team. It requires the ability to engage in the preparation of and participation in team activities in a variety of settings. It also requires the ability to adjust to another culture and review outreach activities.
Course Work
The Discipleship Training School is a combination of heart revelation and head knowledge with an emphasis in practical application. There is also a component of written course work which helps students understanding reach a deeper level as processing and application takes place. Our assessments utilise a range of methods including: journals, workbooks, book reports, outreach reports, self-assessment checklists and supervisor reports. The DTS is a holistic in nature and units of competency are delivered concurrently enabling you to develop your skills, knowledge and character.
*for recognition of prior learning/course credit, please see the Staff and Student Handbook.
Austudy, Abstudy and Youth student allowance is available for Australian applicants.
Introduction to Maritime Operations
Course topics include:
- Elements of Shipboard Safety
- Follow Environmental Work Practices
- Engineering Basics
- Nautical Basics
- Navigation and Navigational Emergencies
- Marine Radio Operation
- Provide First Aid
Prerequisites
Applicants need to have graduated High School or equivalent and have a sense of call to Christian missions. The prerequisite for enrolling in the Introduction to Maritime Operations is to successfully graduate from a Discipleship Training School.
International Students
YWAM Townsville is bound by the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students. The Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations regulates the education and training sector’s involvement with overseas students studying in Australia on student visas. It does this through the Education Services for Overseas Students legislative framework. This protects Australia’s reputation for delivering quality education services and the interests of overseas students, by setting minimum standards and providing tuition and financial assurance.
The legislation mandates a nationally consistent approach to registering education providers so that the quality of the tuition, and care of students, remains high. The professionalism and integrity of the industry is further strengthened by the ESOS legislation’s interface with immigration law. This imposes visa related reporting requirements on both students and providers. A simple explanation of the framework is located here.
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