Kyle Codd has turned a lifelong passion for the water into a hands-on career in aquaculture, becoming the first person to complete a traineeship with Aquaculture Gladstone and receive his Certificate III in Aquaculture in the process.
For Kyle, the traineeship was an opportunity to combine his love of animals and the ocean with practical, hands-on learning and a new career path.
“This traineeship has been a big learning curve – learning how to do the job, the science behind it and understanding animal behaviour.” Kyle said.
“It feels good to receive my Certificate III in Aquaculture. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work alongside and learn from the team at Aquaculture Gladstone who are very smart and experienced at what they do.
“I love feeding the fish and answering questions from visitors when they come into the interpretive display. I like helping other people learn about the aquaculture industry,” he said.
Kyle is excited to continue his journey in the aquaculture industry, encouraging others to give it a go.
“I always thought I’d be out of my depth with the scientific component of the training, but I got my head around it very quickly.
“If you’re interested in aquaculture, you should try it because there’s lots of people to learn from,” he said.
Gladstone Area Water Board CEO Darren Barlow said the milestone is an important moment not only for Kyle and the hatchery team, but for the entire business.
“Our traineeship program is key to ensuring the operational sustainability of our Lake Awoonga restocking program into the future, and it’s fantastic to see our first qualified trainee come through,” Darren said.
“Learning pathways like our traineeship program benefit our local economy and support the growth of Queensland’s aquaculture industry.
“While Kyle is our first trainee to complete his studies, we have a school-based trainee due to complete his traineeship next year.
“Additionally, 12 high school work experience students have also rotated through Aquaculture Gladstone to-date, which is a testament to the commitment of our team and the level of interest in the community,” he said.