The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation report titled, “Final Report – 2005/641 – Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: current and future needs for aquatic animal health training and for systems for merit-based accreditation and competency assessments.” The executive summary of this report concludes:
‘There is a shortfall in both total capacity and more prominently, in the availability of high skill level individuals within both laboratory and field service provision areas. It was widely recognised that many of the traditional pathways for training groups of such skilled individuals was through mentorship and self-education within State and Commonwealth Governments. These are now severely restricted due to a changing role of Government and ongoing tightening of resources. A significant proportion of all stakeholders felt that current Australian training opportunities were either completely absent or of insufficient depth. Seventy-three percent (73%) of survey respondents felt that the demands for aquatic animal health services were likely to increase over the next 5-10 years, which will only exacerbate the currently recognised shortages.
Through discussions with an array of industry stakeholders across Australia there appeared to be sufficient training available for farmer level individuals but not for specialised aquatic animal health diagnostic professionals.’
