We’ve been awarded funding from Skills Tasmania to provide training for 30 people on our ADAS (Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme) certified Aquaculture Diver Course at our Centre in Tasmania, in order to address the current diving skills shortage in the Australian Aquaculture industry,

Currently there is a skills shortage in the field, due to Aquaculture being one of the fastest growing primary industries in Australia.  New jobs are being created which means there is substantial opportunity for employment following training.  This training will help the industry to meet the demand for personnel and provides an opportunity for people who would like to work in the aquaculture industry, or who are already working in the industry, to expand their careers into commercial diving.

One of our past students, who chose this career route, is 31 year old Andrew Hunter from Bruny Island, Tasmania.  A Seal Management Officer for Tassal, Andrew decided complete our four-week Aquaculture Diver Course to further his career.

Andrew said: “I have always had an affinity with water and love to dive and fish, so when a job as a Seal Management Officer came up at Tassal I knew it was the job for me. A main part of the role is stopping seals getting to the fish which involved a lot of work with fish pens.  I quickly discovered however that the fish pens are like icebergs, in that 80% of them are underwater and to do the best job possible I really needed to get down there and see what is happening.

“The Underwater Centre, Tasmania, is the preferred provider of training for Tassal and so it was agreed that I would go there to do the Aquaculture Diver Course.  The training provided was second to none, due to the very competent staff at the Centre and the facilities along with the equipment.  This, combined with the dive site being conveniently located at the training centre, makes the course achievable and enjoyable.

“Now my diving ticket allows me to take a more proactive role in reducing negative seal interactions and gives me more versatility; on a personal note, that makes me a more valued employee.  The increase in money that accompanies a diving career is also a nice incentive.”

Allan Brown, General Manager here at The Underwater Centre in Tasmania, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to increase the skill set of their workforce, without having to fund the training.

“The Aquaculture industry is such an important facet of Australia’s overall industry and is rapidly expanding, but companies are being left behind; qualified divers are scarce meaning companies are not able to keep up with the demand.  The 30 students that we will now be able to train will then have the ability to fill these gaps, increasing company productivity while progressing their own careers.”

If you’re interested in attending one of the funded places on our next ADAS Aquaculture course, read more here.

Do you already work in the Tasmanian Aquaculture industry – what do you think of the skills shortage in your field of work?  Are you already an ADAS Aquaculture certified diver – how do you enjoy your work?