Seafood academy reaches the Northern Territory of Australia. The Austral Academy, a programme launched this year to engage, educate and support young people looking for alternative career pathways in the seafood industry, officially went interstate this month.
Austral team members Mark Nelson, Northern Finfish Fleet Operations, and Ashley To, HR & Payroll Officer, attended two separate careers-focused events in the Northern Territory to promote the many and varied (but largely unknown) career opportunities in the seafood industry.
Mark Nelson said:
“Over the last two days I was involved in ‘Pathways to your future’ at Nightcliff middle school, where year 9, 10 and 11 students from 8 different schools networked with various organisations in regard to career opportunities.
“It was great to see a bunch of bright-eyed young students who were passionate to learn about the potential pathways into the seafood industry, as well as the jobs associated. Spreading the awareness is very important with the next generation, as what I’m seeing is many people that do not know about potential careers in the seafood industry.
“I represented Austral and sat in the seafood industry stall with Katherine Winchester from Northern Territory Seafood Council, Rachel Marr from Humpty Doo Barramundi, and Dean Peeters from Paspaley Pearls. Here we collectively answered any questions that the students had in regard to career pathways, as well as bouncing ideas off each other for potential pathways into our businesses for the next generation.
“This was a great opportunity to get involved with the schools, as well as the other influential businesses and organisations within the seafood industry in the Northern Territory, and I was very fortunate to be a part of the event, and to be invited by Katherine as an industry representative for Austral Fisheries.”