The Royal Australian Navy operated Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour set sail from Sydney today for a 12-month voyage, circumnavigating the globe.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Darren Chester, attended the departure from Fleet Base East, and spoke with members of the Royal Australian Navy crew and the 24 young Australians who will sail the ship on the first leg, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"The navy crew and young Australians who set sail from Sydney today represent every Australian state and territory. During the next 12 months more than 200 youth will join one of eight voyages, sailing Young Endeavour to 16 countries on five continents," Mr Chester said.
"Following a comprehensive scheduled refit, maintenance and work-up program, Young Endeavour is ready to undertake this exciting and challenging deployment."
The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK, MC (Retd), who is patron of the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme, and Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer, CSC and Bar, RAN, joined family members for the departure ceremony, giving the crew of Young Endeavour a formal send off for their 55 day voyage to South America.
During the 12 month circumnavigation, Young Endeavour will visit New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Malta, Greece, Turkey, France, England, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands and South Africa.
Young Endeavour will return to Fremantle, Western Australia, on 23 December 2015 and arrive in Sydney in mid-April 2016 following youth development voyages along the southern coast of Australia.
Mr Chester said the youth development program delivered in Young Endeavour was a credit to the crew and to the Young Endeavour Program, and was recognized internationally.
"The Young Endeavour Program has been recognized internationally as a leading youth development program for over 25 years, developing teamwork, leadership, communication, resilience and a sense of community responsibility amongst hundreds of young Australians each year" Mr Chester said.