Students are the workforce of the future, which is why some of Australia’s most innovative seafood companies are joining an interactive Q&A panel to showcase opportunities for future careers in fishing and aquaculture to classrooms. 

By Dempsey Ward

FRDC Capability and Capacity Manager Sally Roberts says there are many great jobs and career pathways in fishing and aquaculture, so it can be hard for students and teachers to know where to start.  

“Career pathways are varied and never linear. The interactive online panel in May, will inspire students and spark curiosity, whilst also providing practical advice on how to navigate the numerous roles, sectors and the opportunities that will arise in fishing and aquaculture,” Sally said. 

Recent graduate and newly appointed FRDC staff member Dempsey Ward said he didn't realise how many diverse and exciting jobs there were in fishing and aquaculture, before he started. 

“In just the fishing sector alone, you could be donning a wetsuit to do marine research on the reef, analysing different fish species in a lab, or attending a seafood festival and developing social media content for your organisation. The opportunities really are endless – and most people would never even know it’s out there,” Dempsey says.  

The diversity of the panel reflects the variety of jobs, with the panel comprising: 

• Bryan Van Wyk (Fleet Operations Manager for Austral Fisheries)  
• Sam Evenhuis (Smithton Shellfish)  
• Shane Gillie (Training Manager at Seafood & Maritime Training Australia)  
• Christine Huynh (Veterinarian and aquaculture consultant for Nautilus Consulting)  

For example, Shane Gillie has worked across education, aquaculture, and wild catch. He started his professional career working as a Workplace Health and Safety Officer for aquaculture company Tassal Group, before moving into a completely different area – leading training programs for Seafood & Maritime Training Australia.   

Shane now has skills in vocational training, safety management, fleet management, people development and emergency management – expertise that can translate into different jobs and industries.  

Sally can relate to Shane’s varied experience. Before joining FRDC, Sally worked for another great Australian agri sector - Dairy Australia.  

“The fishing and aquaculture space welcomes future talent who can bring new ideas, experiences and a fresh set of eyes,” Sally said. 

“This is a great opportunity for students and teachers to learn more about fishing and aquaculture, and the varied, exciting career opportunities available.”     

The panel session is a collaborative effort between FRDC and Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA) who are working together to engage, connect and showcase fishing and aquaculture in Australian schools as well as helping to create meaningful connections with the next generation and educators.  

The online panel is a free event and will be held on Friday 19 May 2023 at 11.15am AEST.  

To attend the panel and find more information, visit https://www.careerharvest.com.au/careers-week-2023-frdc-careers-panel 

Would you like to tell your education story? Let us know here: https://www.frdc.com.au/newsletters/news-or-social-media-story-suggestions-form

Relevant FRDC Projects

2022-073: Attracting the next generation – Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia Membership 2022-2023

This reflects R&D Plan Outcomes 3 and 5