Gippsland Ports opened its Bullock Island works depot in Lakes Entrance to 85 students from East Gippsland schools in the first Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV) Student Industry Immersion Day.
Senior students from Lakes Entrance Secondary College, Bairnsdale Secondary College and Mallacoota P-12 College took a working boat cruise on local ferry, Seabird, toured the giant suction cutter dredge, Tommy Norto, joined Victoria Police aboard offshore vessel VP09, helped maintain a vessel with the 100 tonne boatyard travel lift and participated in an industry careers panel.
Joining BIAV’s chief executive officer, Steve Walker, and SEAMEC marine training coordinator, Brad Lancaster, on the marine industry careers panel was Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, who is also Shadow Minister for Fishing and Boating. The students gained a valuable insight into the depth of marine career opportunities. The day could not have been possible without the generous assistance of Gippsland Ports chief executive officer, Chris Waites, and boatyards manager, Rob McGrath.
The immersion days are an initiative of the Department of Education and Training and Career Education Association of Victoria. BIAV looks forward to delivering many more of these important events in our quest to deliver the next generation of industry talent.
