A MOUNT Gambier woman is one of the first to graduate from South Australia’s inaugural Aboriginal fisheries officer career pathway program.
After two years of on-the-job training, Cobi Lovett is one of four young South Australians to complete the course, formed to provide opportunities for Aboriginal people to directly engage in the management of South Australia’s aquatic resources.
Discovering the Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) traineeship through word of mouth, Ms Lovett researched the opportunity before diving in to the life-changing experience.
Ms Lovett said the challenges she endured over the last two years were worthwhile.
“My confidence has certainly grown,” she said.
“The thing I have learnt the most is just how rewarding it is to give things a go.”
“At the start I had an attitude that when I was asked to do things for the first time I thought I could not do it, but now I think I have built up a resilient front of facing future challenges.”
Accepting not all challenges can be accomplished on the first attempt, Ms Lovett believes the training has also instilled a greater level of patience she will now carry as a qualified fisheries officer.
“Graduating was a nervous and exciting prospect,” she said.
“Nervous because there is now a lot more responsibility around being an officer and not a trainee, but exciting because of the broader opportunities to further expand both my skills and my confidence.”
Ms Lovett served in an observational role as a trainee and was the “third person in the patrol”, watching and learning as officers went about their day.
“This put me in the best position to go into the job as an official fisheries officer,” the graduate said.
“At the start these challenges were daunting, but now I am happy I had all those things happen because it has built my confidence a lot.”
A passion for marine sustainability initially drew Ms Lovett to the program, an interest which is important to her.
“At the moment I am celebrating the small victories and I do hope to make a difference in the future,” she said.
“I am happy here in Mount Gambier and I do hope to stay here and work, but I am also open to future possibilities.”
In a coup for Ms Lovett, she was also named as the NAIDOC Week traineeship award winner at Pangula Mannamurna’s family fun day last week.
“I am very grateful and very surprised to receive the award,” she said.
“I did not expect to get an award or anything like that.
“But I do wish to thank Pangula for awarding it to me and for the support from the community and my family for helping me complete my traineeship.”
Ms Lovett now plans to continue her extensive work alongside PIRSA as a fisheries officer and expand her skills and passion into the local community.
The State Government launched the traineeship program after recognising the need to include Aboriginal knowledge and involvement of elders and their communities in the state’s fisheries management.
The Fisheries Management Act 2007 specifically recognises Aboriginal traditional fishing as part of the state’s sustainable fisheries management framework.
