COWELL AREA SCHOOL

Where is Cowell?

Cowell is located on the eastern side of EyrePeninsula, 500km Northwest of Adelaide, 107 kmSouth of Whyalla and 159 km North of Pt. Lincoln.

The Aquaculture Course at Cowell Area School grew from an idea put forward by a group of local oyster growers to a structured course undertaken over two to three years of senior secondary schooling.

In 1991 Cowell oyster growers initiated contact with Cowell Area School and requested a course that would suitably equip students for entry into the Aquaculture industry.

From these beginnings we have established a thriving business and a broad integrated curriculum covering Seafood Operations and Marine.

History of the Aquaculture Course

History of the Aquaculture Course

The Franklin Harbour District Council made available a 2 hectare research and Development oyster lease, near the other leases. Local growers helped in the building and equipping of one fence with 2 lines.

As the lease was originally classified as a research and development facility it was unsustainable with no income source. Reclassification as a commercial lease has now allowed an annual income target of a minimum of $30 000.

The first course was offered in 1993 and has continued to grow to this day, with a 90% success rate of all students undertaking the course. 1999 saw the implementation of a full time farm manager and a 0.5 time teacher.  A grant of $20000 for development of the lease was received. Since this time various funding has been accessed through the Federal Government and a Skills Centre was built.

Various fluctuations on the lease took place during the following years. Staff input did have a big impact on how the lease was run and accessed by students in both positive and negatives ways..

More Recent History

At the beginning of 2009 the education department had asked that the whole project be closed down and this included our boarding house. The project was costing money and no students were accessing the seafood course or living in the boarding house.

With a new Principal and a renewed energy amongst the committee it was agreed that the group would investigate the possible options.

1. To close the lease

2. To keep the status quo

3. To just run research

4. To run a full on enterprise and business which was inclusive of the curriculum expected with this level of financial commitment.

Decisions, decisions

After much research and discussion it was decided that we would go with the last option.

That was to run a business model, to purchase spat and to establish ourselves with sales and also sale of on-growns.

We employed a new farm manager and worked tirelessly as a group to re-new the lease by removing some pretty tired old oysters, baskets and lines which were broken.

At the same time we established a business plan, and a strategic plan for the longer term.

We wrote a new curriculum model to engage our students in not only Aquaculture but also in Science, Maths and Marine Science. In this model we have integrated Food and Hospitality and Tech. Studies into Seafood and Marine.

FAST FORWARD TO 2009

By 2009 many things had worked successfully and some had not.

It was essential to review and rework what the school had undertaken. The lease was not solvent and no longer sustainable in the current form.

WHAT TO DO?

After meeting with the Aquaculture Committee (growers in general) it was decided that we would undertake an audit and try to come up with some scenarios to create a way forward. No one wanted to see the whole program close down.

Today

During 2009 we were successful in achieving Trade Training Centre Funding with a consortium of schools across Eyre.

This equated to 10.6 million dollars and our original share was about $700,000.

As the buildings in other sites have proved far more expensive that previously allowed for our funding has dropped to about $400,000. Still a considerable amount of money.

We have ordered a new punt, a grader, baskets and line and new posts.

What are the things which have helped to turn this whole project around?

Belief that it can be successful.

Planning and systems including constant review which promote sustainability.

Partnerships with growers and business

Partnerships with Uni SA, Flinders Uni, SARDI, SAOGA and other schools and organisations.

STRENGTHSStrong community support through growers and local businesses as well as through VMR.Have small class sizesFocus on Pathways for studentsActively developing fields of study which are relevant to student learning Have an accommodation facility to support block learning for other sites Provide local delivery to students in other schools Offer student work place learning.Work in collaboration & cooperation with cluster schools for benefit of allHave productive oyster lease, equipment, fresh & salt water tanks & farm manager to support Marine Studies.Have Manager & teachers with work place assessor training (Certificate 4)

Have community members with work place assessor training

Work with TAFE, AFA and other registered training organisations in determining courses for students

Use embedded topics & stand alone intensive courses run by TAFE & AFA etc. as learning opportunities

Have a good reputation within employment agencies

Have excellent geographical position on Eyre Peninsula

Have school car to support students, teachers & local delivery

Recognised as a centre of excellence in school & industry links by Flinders & SA Universities, Seafood CRC & Industry Pathways Program

Recognised by international visitors as a centre of excellence in school based aquaculture

Strengths