The 16-year-old is working on a Certificate II in Fishing Operations at the Challenger Institute of Technology’s maritime campus in Fremantle, after being a disinterested high school student just a few months earlier.
The Maritime Youth Program graduate said he had never thought about a career in the maritime industry but said that he loved being a part of it.
“It’s good to feel valued and a part of something,” he said. “I enjoy the hands-on approach to learning, how we do something new every day and especially the friendships formed with my fellow classmates, so I actually get excited to come to class.
“I am really enjoying the fishing aspects of my current studies and feel this is an area I would like to pursue eventually as a career.”
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The Maritime Youth Project is a joint initiative between Challenger and the Department of Education that gives disengaged high school students a chance to start a new career pathway and continue into further maritime qualifications.
Challenger Institute maritime studies director Nihar Rai said the program was one of a kind and gave disenchanted youth encouragement to progress through their studies.