Career Taster Program - AQWA Insider (FULL DAY)

Gain insider knowledge into the day-to-day experiences and duties of career aquarists, marine scientists & tour guides with AQWA's new marine science & tourism Career Taster Program (CTP), designed exclusively for Year 9 - 10 students.

What to Expect:

This full day (5 hours) career taster program is suitable for Year 9 - 10 students on their journey of exploring future careers paths and experiencing real workplaces. This program is sure to inspire those who have shown an interest in marine science, aquaculture, zoology, tourism and more. Students will garner insights into the roles, requirements, challenges and above all the joys of working alongside animals & the public, within a major aquarium and attraction.

Program Inclusions:

• Entry to all of AQWA's exhibits, as per a standard excursion
• Lunch
• Glass bottom boat ride; behind the scenes access; hands-on experiences
• 1 free teacher per 8 students
• Full day program (as below)

Timetable:

10.00am - Greeting and outline of day

10.15am - Insights Into: Reef conservation & roles of aquaculture:

- Enjoy a behind the scenes visit to our Coral Conservatory

10.30am - Insights Into: Rehabilitation and release of endangered species | Working as a tour guide & public education:

- Meet an Ocean Guide and go behind the scenes as they deliver a public presentations while feeding our rescue turtle. Help complete the daily feed sheet.

11.00am – Insights Into: Field research & human impacts:

- Join our guided beachwalk and sample for microplastics. Examine & record your results.

12noon – Insights Into: Life of an aquarist and animal care:

- Get hands-on (and a bit smelly!) as you feed the fish of the Marina Bay aquarium

12.15pm - Lunch

12.30pm – Insights Into: Environmental science in action:

- Discover how water quality testing is used to assess turbidity and nutrient levels.

1.00pm - Insights Into: A Marine Biologist in action, specialising in turtle research:

- Listen to presentation on the turtle species of WA then engage in turtle researcher activities (scanning for microchips, determining survivorship from nests, identifying species) to mimic the tasks of a real marine biologist.

1.45pm - Insights Into: Leading public tours | Operations & safety in marine/boating settings:

- Experience AQWA's glass bottom boat and glide across the main 3 million litre aquarium, discovering amazing animal facts.

2.15pm - Final questions & end of day

Need To Know:

• This excursion package is available Mondays & Fridays during school term.
• This is a discounted product available exclusively to WA schools only who book an excursion Monday or Friday. Excludes public and school holidays.
• There is a minimum of 6 students + 1 teacher to book this package.
• You can arrive for your Excursion any time from 9am; please nominate your estimated arrival time in the Additional Information section of the booking process.
• This activity is available for groups of 6 - 27 students. Teachers with 9+ students please make an enquiry with our Education Manager on how we can accommodate you

Before Your Excursion:

• “By 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish”. To help prevent this looming prediction from coming true, AQWA has teamed up with Containers for Change and we are asking every student and visitor to bring three 10c marked containers with them to donate to the AQWA Foundation.
• Get students excited for their excursion by involving them in our Bring 3 For the Sea initiative!
• This small challenge will support AQWA Foundation's turtle rehabilitation program AND reduce rubbish in the ocean and in landfill.
• Simply have each student bring 3 eligible containers to donate during your excursion and your school will receive a Certificate of Acknowledgement for helping the AQWA Foundation! When you book an AQWA excursion, we'll even post out a Containers for Change collection bag to start gathering your containers before you visit
• *Rescue turtles are often in our care, though this is not guaranteed. No turtles at the moment? That's actually great! It means no sick or injured turtles are requiring our help. We still have a resident loggerhead turtle to meet in the Shipwreck Coast and this program can be modified to include an alternative animal feeding.