An enthusiastic group of young Aboriginal boaties recently gained valuable skills on Thaua-Yuin Sea Country on the NSW South Coast, thanks to a collaboration between the Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Aboriginal Fisheries team in the Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development (DPIRD).
Newly qualified boaties. Image: Koorin Campbell
The group of young men took part in a hands-on training day at Quarantine Bay, south of Eden, where they worked towards earning their general boat licence qualification.
The event was organised by the Department’s Aboriginal Project Officer (South), Koorin Campbell, who was thrilled by the participants’ enthusiasm.
“It was really good to see how keen they were to get out on the water and learn some boating skills,” he said.
“You couldn’t wipe the smiles off their faces as they drove back to Eden.”
“A lot of the guys had never had the opportunity to do any boating before this course, and they were ‘buzzing’ after they got off the boat at the end of the day, talking about how much they enjoyed the experience.”
The training held in Twofold Bay was funded by the Marine Estate Management Strategy (MEMS).
It is part of the Aboriginal Fisheries Team’s effort to build skills with local communities that could lead to job opportunities in industries like commercial and charter fishing.
As of 2024, more than 300 Aboriginal people have taken part in the Marine Skills program delivered by the MEMS Aboriginal Fisheries Team, gaining accredited qualifications in skills such as boating, open water diving and maritime operations.
To find out how your community can get involved, visit the Cultural Economic Development webpage or the Sea Country Marine Estate playlist on YouTube.
