Williamtown based ex-Jetstar employees gain secure employment supporting ADF Port Stephens Port Stephens News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - February 16, 2021 Ben Collins is happy and secure in his new role reporting to a Warrant Officer and a Wing Commander while being a civilian. Photo: Marian Sampson. JOBS are the focus for the future of Port Stephens and new industries are set to create stable employment for locals. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Prime Minister Scott Morrison believes the way forward out of COVID-19 is in secure jobs for all Australians. With COVID-19 playing havoc with the tourism industry, many of the region’s Jetstar employees were stood down last year. Many families suffered as a result, like that of Ben Davis who was a trades supervisor at Jetstar, looking after the Jetstar apprentices and tradesmen at Williamtown airport. Ben Davis told News Of The Area, “I got a phone call one morning and that was it, my wife was a flight attendant as well and we both got the same phone call the same morning – it was back to the drawing board.” It was a devastating moment for a two income family with children, before Ben landed a job with BAE Systems Australia in Williamtown. “I got really lucky with BAE, we heard whispers and then we got bought in for a meeting, there was a meeting in the hangar and it was a case of we have jobs for you if you want them.” Some of the Jetstar apprentices and tradesmen migrated across to jobs in BAE as well. “I now report to a warrant officer and a Wing Commander,” he said. Ben isn’t in the defence force, but reports for his civilian job through the defence force chain of command. He believes that working in the defence side of aerospace is more stable than working in commercial flights. “We have jobs for the next 30 years,” he stated. “We are local to the airport, I can still use my skill set and we don’t have to move, the other options were to move interstate, the Defence Minister, and BAE have moved mountains to get us onboard,” he said. Brittany Collins is also an ex-Jetstar employee. “It’s a massive step up but it is awesome,” she said. She noted that her employment is now a lot more secure than when she was working in the commercial airline business. Those who have made the change to working on the fighter jets likened it to working on Ferrari’s after having worked on the bus. Apprentice Regan Knock stated that the opportunity with BAE had saved him from having to move to Melbourne due to COVID-19 based industry changes. By Marian SAMPSON Regan Knock and Brittany Collins are settling in and enjoying working on the high performance aircraft. Photo: Marian Sampson.
