An initiative of the Australian Prawn Farmers Association is expanding to provide workplace leadership skills for prawn producers and supply chain operators, and for other aquaculture sectors too.
By Catherine Norwood
Australia’s aquaculture operations are often based in regional and remote locations, making it a challenge to attract and retain staff and to provide them with training opportunities.
The development of its people is a priority for the Australian Prawn Farmers Association (APFA), which has invested in two programs to build skills and leadership capability and capacity.
Co-funded with the FRDC through an Industry Partnership Agreement, one program has developed a training course for managers and supervisors in prawn farming businesses.
The other program, to develop leadership and networking capacity, supports prawn farmers to attend industry events and to take part in FRDC’s National Seafood Industry Leadership Program (NSILP).
Training managers
APFA Research and Administration Coordinator Jackson Taber has coordinated the training course to build the capability and capacity of managers and supervisors in businesses involved in prawn farming and the wider supply chain.
The course was delivered by Affectus who specialise in leadership and capacity development for primary industries.
It included a two-day intensive workshop focusing on skills to effectively manage a team, build a positive workplace culture and work effectively with generational differences.
Participants also made presentations at the APFA’s annual conference and attended the networking gala dinner. Individual coaching sessions were provided, and a half-day virtual workshop allowed participants to reflect on the challenges and successes of putting new skills into practice.
“This program for managers and supervisors is aimed at providing professional development and helping them to create positive, happy workplaces and also help to retain staff,” says Jackson.
“There’s a lot of seasonal work in the prawn sector, which is based in regional locations, and we’re competing with the mining industry for staff. So, a good workplace culture is important.
The course was successfully piloted in 2023 with 14 participants and held again in 2024 with 15 participants. It will run next in 2025, and then every two years, in conjunction with the APFA conference.
“This course was developed in response to specific requests from our sector, and it has been well-received by industry, with positive feedback.
“There seems to be strong interest in continuing to offer the course, and we are opening it to other aquaculture sectors which share similar staff issues.
“Last year the Barramundi Association of Australia sent some of their people. Other sectors have also reached out.”
Leadership and networking
Jackson is also one of four recent representatives from the prawn farming sector sponsored to take part in NSILP as part of the APFA’s leadership and networking program.
Jackson was part of the 2023 NSILP cohort. Others are Shannon Moore, general manager at Gold Coast Marine Aquaculture (2022), Ryan Lowrey, hatchery manager at Australian Prawn Farms (2024) and Matthew Gardener, manager at Pacific Reef Tiger Prawns (2025).
The AFPA also sponsors attendance at industry events, which has included sending a delegate to the World Aquaculture Conference in Darwin in 2023, who shared their experiences with AFPA members.
Jackson says the sector is passionate about developing people and providing opportunities for its members to develop their skills, network and understand prawn farming and aquaculture more broadly.
These regular development opportunities allow people to grow their capabilities and confidence activities, allowing members to plan and continue to create positive workplaces.
Related FRDC Projects
2022-061: Developing leadership and networking capability in Australian prawn farming
