Leonora District High School, fishing for the future
Aquaculture has become part of students' learning experience at Leonora District High School.
Principal Greg Fisher said the idea for a sustainable inland aquaculture program developed from a goal to increase the school's science objective.
Mr Fisher said the science expertise of two teachers - one from the primary school and one from the secondary school - had greatly assisted the school in the development of the program.
"We also wanted to offer our students something that was relevant and engaging," he said.
One of the school's yabby breeding tanks.
"With local mining companies - Minara Resources and BHP Nickel - willing to support us, we were in a position to try something different.
"We also had the support of the Goldfields District Education Office."
Mr Fisher said primary school teachers use the aquaculture program to cover the Curriculum Council's 'life and living' science outcome and the secondary school uses the program in the delivery of vocational education and training (VET) skills. The school has applied to the Curriculum Council to have the secondary school program recognised as a endorsed course.
"The two cohorts of secondary school students targeted by the course include students who don't have strong skills in Standards Australian English (SAE) or numeracy, but who speak fluent Aboriginal English and possess excellent hands-on learning skills. The second cohort is VET students wishing to pursue agricultural-related careers," he said.
"Throughout the secondary school program, students learn to identify and problem-solve while striving to achieve their main goal; to create sustainable and commercially viable jobs for the future.
"The 'whole school' approach to aquaculture has been very successful."
Mr Fisher said students helped with the construction of the aquaculture complex, which includes three tanks in a fully enclosed compound. The complex also features solar pumps.
He said the school would farm yabbies initially, but it would also investigate a yabby and perch polyculture.
"The next extension of the course is to establish links with other schools involved in aquaculture; possibly around Collie, where aquaculture research is underway.
"The school is also interested in adding a complementary horticulture program, which could involve propagating traditional bush food plants, fertilized by aquaculture by-products," Mr Fisher said.
