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Australia’s first traineeships in sponge farming… trials, triumphs, and lessons learned

Australia’s first traineeships in sponge farming… trials, triumphs, and lessons learned. Libby Evans-Illidge Australian Institute of Marine Science e.evansillidge@aims.gov.au. Why grow sponges? The world needs a new sustainable supply. www.divingheritage.com. www.gokalymnos.com.

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Australia’s first traineeships in sponge farming… trials, triumphs, and lessons learned

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  1. Australia’s first traineeships in sponge farming… trials, triumphs, and lessons learned Libby Evans-Illidge Australian Institute of Marine Science e.evansillidge@aims.gov.au

  2. Why grow sponges? The world needs a new sustainable supply www.divingheritage.com www.gokalymnos.com • Current supply wild harvest • Current unmet demand • Well established market

  3. To Palm Island to explore the opportunity Coolgaree CDEP – PI based proponent AIMS – the science Qld State Development - business dev.

  4. 18 mth negotiation Facilitated by NNTT, advice from AIMS & DSDI The ILUA between Manbarra and Coolgaree - Signed July 2005

  5. Science/environmental basis Understand/manage impacts Wild dynamics, recovery Identify best method Feeding/pumping biology Growth and survival

  6. Market Analysis & Business Planning • Global demand exceeds supply • Room for at least 1 million extra units per year • The two Palm Is candidates are acceptable • Enterprise with 32 FTE’s • Profitable after yr 5 • 500 000 units/year

  7. C’th employ- ment & training org’s QDET QDPI&F (indigenous aquaculture extenion) TAFE & Other RTO’s C’th Regulators GBRMPA DEW Coolgaree/ new enterprise Project proponents Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM State Regulators DPI, EPA DSDI – proj managem’t & business dev advice Original Oceanz Manbarra TO’s AIMS science & tech advice JCU

  8. Start Farming Timeline Fundraise DEWHA Permit applications GBRMPA Training Final bus plan & market strat. Prelim market assessment /bus planning ILUA neg’ns Preliminary research Dev. research Early consultation 2002 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 1999

  9. Training and Skills Transfer

  10. Priority No 1: Diving • Essential for in-sea venture • Maximise indigenous participant’s engagement, participation, ownership • Development of technology • Develop protocols for a new industry

  11. July –December 2005 Co-ordinated by Barrier Reef TAFE Pre-vocational Numeracy/literacy, followed by… Occupational dive training Dive RTO identified $$ agreed Funding – TAFE + employment networks Trained divers by December 2005 Training…. Mark Ithe plan…

  12. 11 trainees started, ~6 completed the pre-vocational numeracy/literacy Field trips, basic reef survey methods (non diving) Assistance from DPI, JCU In Nov, advised at SG meeting that, in fact, no funding was available for the dive training Of the 6 finalists, none were able to pass a commercial dive medical Training Mark I…What actually happened!

  13. DET and DEWR agreed to co-fund longer- term traineeships for 1 year (later extended to 2 years) from May 2006 TAFE (Innisfail) agreed to facilitate Cert III aquaculture qualifications through seafood industry package (mix and match electives for sponge farming) occupational diver training (non construction) Commercial dive medical part of the recruitment process Along with numeracy and literacy assessment, to be done by TAFE (BR) Program of relevant work experience placements for ‘on-the-job’ training component. We will have trained divers by December 2006 Training Mark IIthe plan….

  14. Advertised traineeships April 2006 no applicants!!! Resort course – 5 applicants. Recruitment process finished in July 2006 Admin delay/confusion regarding enrolment and commencement Trainees commenced October 2006 Training Mark IIrecruitment

  15. Coolgaree resources Senior staff changes, training coordinator position changed 4 times in 2 yrs Traineeships set for 1 year (later learnt should be 2) Steering group meetings became sporadic TAFE resources Inadequate facilitation (initially) No training plan and no diaries until August 2007 No clear strategic plan for trainees – ad hoc Administrative Issues

  16. Coolgaree: TAFE’s role to coordinate aspects of the traineeships (work experience, formal training) through the ‘training plan’ TAFE: the traineeships are apprenticeships, and it is the employers responsibility to coordinate. TAFE role is facilitation of formal training needs and assessment of competencies. Misunderstandings

  17. ‘Draft’ advice provided by TAFE July 2007 Cert III should be 2 years, traineeships only 1 year. Lack of on-site resources Insufficient workplace supervision, permits/farm establishment still too far off No funding to transport trainees to dive training Recommended cancellation of traineeships Crisis and clarification

  18. Training plan and diaries! Dedicated supervision at Coolgaree Close direction, monitoring and contact with TAFE facilitator Immediate work placements at AIMS Dive training started via recreational route + hours Occupational dive training commenced December 2007 (complete with hours Aug 08) DET/DEWR traineeships extended 1 yr The rescue

  19. At AIMS: Marine operations (small boat operation and maintenance) Field trips Aquaculture (land-based experience) Coral coring (following directions, operating equipment safely) Workshop (metal bending, cutting, swaging, splicing) Work experience placementsFor trainees without an industry

  20. Trainees do everything (AIMS direction and advice) material needs calculated from engineer drawings Got quotes, placed orders Constructed all equipment 200+panels, 9 line assemblies First diving field trip with trainees – August 2008 Ongoing measuring and maintenance Trials of commercial design and handling logistics

  21. Regulatory assessment Fundraising Ongoing training – set up (pending funding) Link to Torres Strait project Next Steps

  22. 6 month delay between recruitment – start 10 months delay to a training plan and diaries 15 months delay to start of occupational dive training Threat of traineeships being cancelled 3 trainees remain… due to complete Cert III with dive quals + hours soon!! Sponge farm still 12 months away The human face

  23. Traineeships in parallel with establishment of brand new industry It’s a big ask! Multiple stakeholders and interests Needs strong, effective coordination and facilitation that is FOCUSED and RESOURCED Coordinate formal training and work experience program Identify , coordinate and contract-manage funding and resources Secretariat to steering group, ensure follow up Strategic plan for the traineeships Effective communication! Limit the misunderstandings Community based ‘ownership’ is paramount Limits to corporate governance and management skills - patience Numeracy and literacy Health Lessons Learned

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