Women in Seafood Australasia

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber of the winner of the Women in Seafood Australasia seafood bursary?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wortley!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for her question. Seafood Directions is the premier seafood industry conference—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I would like to hear the answer.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Thank you. I will start again. Seafood Directions is the premier seafood industry conference in Australia, and I am pleased to advise that in support of women in the South Australian seafood industry, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has awarded a $6,000 bursary through Women in Seafood Australasia (WISA) to attend Seafood Directions 2024. The winner of the bursary is Ms Kylie Graham of Tumby Bay on Eyre Peninsula.

Kylie has been fishing since she was a young child and has been successful in many recreational fishing competitions across Australia. She has worked on commercial fish farms with a focus on breeding, as well as doing research on South Australian prawn vessels to gain an understanding of the sector, and is currently working with prawn trawl operators to investigate avenues to open the industry up to women and make it a more attractive occupation for women. Kylie has been travelling and working around Australia for a number of years and has developed mental health programs for women in the seafood community, which she has started rolling out.

WISA bursaries seek to provide increased opportunities for women in seafood, with WISA working to support, promote, encourage and represent women in the seafood industry. This bursary will enable Kylie to attend Seafood Directions in Hobart from 10 to 12 September this year, where she will be mentored by WISA and can develop her networks, connections, skills and capacity in the seafood industry.

This bursary has previously helped other South Australian women in the seafood industry to develop their careers by attending the national conference, such as Maxience Williams from Port MacDonnell, who I had the pleasure of meeting after she was awarded the bursary in 2022. It is a fantastic program that not only recognises the achievements of women in seafood but also promotes opportunities for the future.

I look forward to PIRSA sponsoring this program in years to come and providing further opportunities, such as the one Kylie has this year. I am sure there were other worthy applicants who missed out this year, and I would encourage them to apply again when the opportunity arises. I congratulate Kylie Graham on her successful application and wish her all the best with her career.