Austral Academy Takes to Karratha
Austral’s Sam Colvin recently represented the Austral Academy during his visit to Clontarf and Karratha Senior High School.
Read Sam’s wrap-up of his two school visits across two days below:
Monday | Clontarf, Year 9 Students
A large contingency of local Pilbara kids have fishing in their blood from a year young age. Most have inherited the traditional art of fishing which has been passed down through the generations in their families. The year 9 Clontarf students are no exception to that. A small group of seven students learnt all about Austral Fisheries, what we do, and how working in commercial fishing could be a potential career pathway for them after high school.
The kids were engaged during the presentation and their passion was clearly strong when it came to rec fishing. However, their eyes were clearly opened as the session went on and they learnt more about to the world of the commercial fishing industry and the career opportunities that are possible. It was quite satisfying explaining to them how to link their favourite school subjects to the commercial fishing industry and how the Austral Academy can help with their career progression. The session brought out plenty of questions from the teacher and students alike.
After the session we headed out to Dampier boat ramp to throw a line in off the jetty. Clearly the students knew the local hot spots and how best to fish around the Pilbara region. We had a laugh and caught a few fish before heading back to school for lunch and a debrief.
Tuesday | Karratha SHS, Year 9 Students
As most know, Karratha is a mining hub of Western Australia, so typically the career pathways in this region lead down the mining sector. For that reason, a career in fishing is a tough sell in a mining town like Karratha! Nevertheless, 14 students put their hand up and showed strong interest in the fishing industry as a career – and they were MAD KEEN fishos! All they wanted to talk about was fishing. It very much reminded me of my youth and how I was brought up.
However, like the Clontarf students, they had no idea what’s involved in a commercial fishing operation, and the career opportunities that go along with it. Throughout the in-class presentation, the students gathered a great understanding about marine and environmental sustainability, and what’s involved to ensure our planet produces the best marine proteins for years to come. Austral Fisheries strives to be industry leaders and I was proud to pitch the students that this is how we roll. The students were constantly engaged by the at-sea footage of huge waves and remote waters that we operate in. Of course, there were plenty of questions to follow from them.
After the presentation we made our way out to Point Samson to wet a line off the jetty. Fortunately, at the same time as our arrival, the MGK vessel “Torbay” was unloading their fresh catch. Long term skipper Paul Henderson was kind enough to let the students onboard to understand first-hand how the commercial vessel looks, feels and operates. This was a great way to round out the day’s session – with a tour of a commercial fishing vessel, a few fish caught and plenty of like-minded fishos sharing the same passion.
We were humbled by the feedback received after Sam’s visit from Julie Reed, Karratha Senior High School’s Career Practitioner/Teacher. Find a snippet of this below:
“Dear Sam, Ashley & the team at Austral,
I am writing to extend my deepest gratitude to you and the entire team at Austral Fisheries for providing an unforgettable Career Taster experience to two groups of Year 9 students from Karratha Senior High School earlier this month. The Career Taster organized by Sam which included insights into sustainable fishing, career pathways and a tour of the fishing trawler at Point Samson, left a positive impact on our students.
I cannot emphasise enough how much the students enjoyed the presentation by Sam and the fishing experience which provided them with a unique opportunity to witness the fishing process up close and personal. Furthermore, the impromptu tour of the fishing trawler enabled students to learn about the intricacies of the vessel and the various operations involved in a fishing expedition. Exploring the trawler not only expanded their knowledge but also gave them a glimpse into the life of a professional fisherman. It was an invaluable experience that allowed our students to envision themselves as part of this dynamic industry.
The fishing experience and the trawler tour, coupled with the comprehensive insights provided during the Career Taster, painted a vivid picture of sustainable fishing practices and the diverse career opportunities within Austral Fisheries. Our students were able to witness firsthand your company’s commitment to responsible fishing and preserving marine resources. This experience has not only deepened their understanding of sustainable fishing but also sparked their interest in pursuing careers within this field and learning about the pathways available to them.”
Thanks to the students and teachers of Clontarf and Karratha Senior High Schools for participating in our latest Austral Academy visit.
Visit our Austral Academy hub to learn more.