Striving to be leaders in our industry

Pathway Program Students Tour

–The students inside Whale Point –

–A Fortress Pen out of the water –

A group of the Huon Valley Trade Training Centre’s Pathway Students recently got out the classroom to explore possible career pathways in aquaculture and its supporting industries.

The Pathway Program is made up of Huonville High School, St. James Catholic College and Dover District School students who have an interest in working in the aquaculture, agriculture and trade sectors.

–“The tour saw the group visit Huon Aquaculture’s Whale Point Salmon Nursery and Mitchell Plastic Welding’s pen building facility, roto-moulding factory and fabrication workshop.” –Alison Stebbing, Huon’s Education Relations Adviser has worked with the Pathway Program for three years and accompanied the group.

“The aim of the site visits was to expose the students to different employment options available in the Huon Valley. With a number of students interested in a career in aquaculture or undertaking a trade, students heard from staff about the variety of roles in each workplace and the skills that potential employers look for, not just certificates, but life skills like attitude, reliability, communication, and team work,” said Alison.

At Whale Point, the students were taken around the site by Kylie Short, Assistant Hatchery Manager, who explained how the recirculation and filtration systems work and how the fish are cared for.

“Kylie also talked to the group about the different roles at the site including hatchery technicians, fish health officers, environmental managers, and maintenance staff. She showed the students the lab and the computer control room which opened their eyes to how high-tech the nursery is,” said Alison.

The next stop on the tour was Mitchell Plastic Welding’s Whale Point facility where they were met by Operations Manager, Michael Rowe. Here the students were impressed to see an entire 240metre Fortress Pen out of the water.

“The students saw a refurbished cage on land and watched the slab staff preparing it to go on the slip back into the water. The students were able to see the different parts of the pens stored in the yard and how the components went together,” said Alison.

Michael discussed with the students the different types of welding, and the research and development that had gone into the pens, including the continual upgrades and improvements. “Importantly, Michael also gave the students an idea of the types of roles with Mitchell Plastic Welding and the training required. Pen building is like giant adult Lego and I think that aspect appealed to some of the group, which is a fantastic result,” finished Alison.

Ben Sculthorpe, Pathway Program’s organiser and mentor said the students now have a better idea of local employment opportunities.

–“A number of the students have expressed an interest in working for Huon or Mitchell’s, which is what I was hoping for,” said Ben. –The students also visited Mitchell Plastic Welding’s roto-moulding factory (which works with raw powdered plastic to mould Fortress Pen parts) and finished up the tour at their fabrication workshop.

Huon Aquaculture and Mitchell Plastic Welding work closely with the Trade Training Centre and host student work placements which have resulted in employment for many of the students from the Vocational Training Courses.