This three-day engaging program, jointly facilitated by SCOPE and Rural Skills Australia from 25th -27th March, gave the seventeen participating students a look at the wide range of opportunities in this industry sector. On Day One students learned that Department of Primary Industries and Water were responsible for Tasmania’s natural wildlife. The Department’s Manager, Penny Wells, gave an overview of career pathways within this diverse government department.

Coffey International showed students two sites in the city centre where pollution monitoring and rehabilitation work is being carried out. One site was previously a petrol station and the other, adjacent to the Hobart Rivulet, had been a car park for over twenty years.

At the Bureau of Meteorology, students learned about the potential long-term impact of climate change and how it is already affecting some industries and ecosystems. Mal Riley’s entertaining presentation engaged the students throughout.

Alena Hrasky from Parks & Wildlife (who only manage parks) met the students at Rosny Hill Reserve where she discussed with them the many aspects of managing such an area for a range of conflicting interests and some of the challenges that this created. Students then workshopped the reasons for allowing or restricting access to the area between dusk and dawn.

On Day Two, Alena gave students a tour of Parks and Wildlife’s facilities at Seven Mile Beach which was followed up by a presentation at their Southeast Regional office. Students heard from a number of their staff about different careers within the organisation and their individual career pathways to their current positions.

At Whitewater Creek, Kingston, Bridget Jupe from Kingborough Council showed students how the area was being rehabilitated after the removal of feral willow trees. Students then removed plastic protection sleeves from shrubs planted last year. They then visited the wetlands where stormwater is treated before release into the Derwent River.

On Day Three students visited UTAS to find out about tertiary courses and the subjects they should consider taking to fulfil their pre-tertiary requirements. They also did a planning exercise and heard from an honours graduate about her research work at UTAS.

At Tasmanian Polytechnic’s Warrane Campus, students took water samples from a nearby creek and measured the salinity, temperature and pH as well as collecting invertebrates to discover the condition of the creek. Tasmanian Polytechnic’s CLM section then put on a barbeque for the students who completed the course by discussing various pros and cons of a proposed development.

"The knowledge and experiences we were lucky enough to receive, you can’t find on the internet or in a classroom."  Student, Ogilvie High School.

"I cannot thank you and your team enough for your time as this has been a valuable opportunity for me." Student, Dominic College

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