International student is BCMI ‘rising star’

Richard takes advantage of the hands on training approach at the BCMI campus whilst being guided by industry experienced lecturers.

Oh, Vienna. The cultural capital of the world, renowned for its architecture and music, liberal thinking and more than 150,000 student places in private and public universities.

So why would any student want to leave to study half the world away in Geraldton, WA?

“To study in a best practice aquaculture facility,” said former Viennese university student Richard Kreuzweger, who did his homework on the place before making the quantum leap.

This international student swapped life and education in the Austrian capital to enrol in aquaculture at Batavia Coast Maritime Institute (BCMI) in Geraldton and earned himself an Outstanding Achievement Award to boot.

BCMI is a campus of Durack Institute of Technology in Geraldton and is a best practice aquaculture, marine research and training facility, and that’s what attracted Richard.

He switched from biology to aquaculture because it could provide him with more practical skills, and his decision is really paying off.

BCMI Lecturer, Aquaculture and Maritime, Ben Byrne, said Richard is a rising star.

“Richard is a popular and highly motivated student,” he said.

“He is adaptable and hardworking and has already received an Outstanding Achievement Award in Cert II and III in Marine Sciences, has completed Certificate II in Aquaculture, and is now studying his Diploma in Aquaculture.”

Richard is already getting hands‐on work in the industry as a casual hatchery assistant in the ornamental fish section at BCMI (Australia’s biggest breeder of Clown Fish – the much‐loved Nemo), and volunteers with our industry partner, Chapman Valley Fish Farm, where he harvests and moves fish. He is also working on a federally funded tilapia and riverine pest control program with Dr Colin Johnson in the mid‐west.

When he has gained his diploma, Richard plans to pursue employment working with salmon in Europe’s Aquaculture industry, or return to his homeland and start his own business in farming and breeding fish. Richard is not the only International student choosing to study at BCMI’s world class facility. Students from Singapore and the Philippines have previously enrolled to take advantage of the Marine Science and Fisheries Courses that offer a pathway to employment or further study in marine sciences in the university sector.

BCMI is not only becoming an important research Institution in marine ornamentals aquaculture in Australia, but also provides great opportunities for training in Marine Science.  

For more information on these courses, contact BCMI (08) 9956 6175 or email bcmi@durack.edu.au. Alternatively, visit the Durack Institute of Technology website, www.durack.edu.au and click on Batavia Coast Maritime Institute to discover the range of nationally recognised qualifications from Certificate I to Diploma level.