New Aquaculture Pre-Employment program aims to support local industry with a talent pipeline of workers

A new Aquaculture Pre-Employment Program is meeting industry needs, by tapping into a pipeline of skilled workers ready to fill vital work shortages in the Territory.

Charles Darwin University (CDU) is partnering with the Industry Skills Advisory Council NT (ISACNT), and Northern Territory Seafood Council to provide training and traineeship opportunities to job seekers in the aquaculture industry.

The Aquaculture Pre-employment training initiative called “Watch it Grow” has been designed to help give people a clear path into a career working in Northern Territory aquaculture sector. The goal of the program is to transition successful applicants into local traineeships with industry partners.

 The program is designed to equip students to be job ready in the field of aquaculture and covers initial employability skills, such as gaining an understanding of disease control and biosecurity, responsibilities in Work Health and Safety, chemical handling, and food safety in seafood handling.

CDU Aquaculture Lecturer Morris Pizzutto said the training will support both the seafood and biosecurity industry in Northern Australia and will assist participants in achieving the expertise they need to become employable in the field.

“There is a current skills shortage to fill jobs in the industry and employers are keen to find enthusiastic locals to fill those roles, this pre-employment program will assist with just that,” Mr Pizzutto said.

“CDU will help train locals through this program that are job ready to work in industry - there’s an opportunity here to develop an industry in the NT and show students that there are plenty of jobs available and they can have a long and rewarding career.”

The Northern Territory Government has identified the aquaculture sector as a priority growth industry for the Territory to help boost our local economy.

Minister for Agribusiness and Aquaculture, Nicole Manison said the Northern Territory Government was focused on growing the sector into the future.

“Our agriculture and aquaculture sectors are priority growth industries for the Territory Government because they create hundreds of ongoing jobs and continue to boost our economy,” Minister Manison said.

“We are serious about getting on with the job of growing our economy to $40 billion by 2030, and this new Agribusiness and Aquaculture Strategy is an integral part of that.”

 ISACNT Executive Officer Amelia Nuku said “Watch it Grow” initiative opens the door for Territorians who are seeking a career in the NT Aquaculture sector.

“In delivering this program we can ensure that Territory businesses now and, in the future, will have a skilled workforce to build their capability and capacity for Aquaculture projects,” Ms Nuku said.

There will be an information session at CDU on March 1 2022, with industry representatives explaining current employment opportunities. 

Those interested in applying for the program should head to: Register your Interest Watch It Grow 2022 - NT Aquaculture Workforce Program Survey (research.net)

To learn more about CDU aquaculture courses visit cdu.edu.au/study/course/sfi20119-certificate-ii-aquaculture-sfi20119