MTAQ MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

The list below is a summary of publications, professional development programs, agreements, certificates, memorandums of understanding, marine curriculum exchange, workshops and conferences that we have achieved over the years.

Publications

  • Writing a 75 page Boating Schools Safety Management System for Tinnies – The first in Australia.
  • 2005 – 2010 – Writing, researching and developing Queensland’s ONLY Queensland Studies Authority approved syllabus in Coast and Marine Education.
  • Development of Australia’s only Marine Olympic and Marine Safety Day Manuals for high school students.

Professional development programs

  • 2000 – 2010 – Developing a NAUI Snorkelling Instructors certificate designed and implemented for Australian teachers.
  • 2000 – 2008 – Designing, developing and implementing an Undergraduate course at Griffith University to train marine teachers.
  • 2010 – 2011 – Designing and implementing a boating induction program for inexperienced teachers.

Agreements and memoranda of understanding

  • 1996, 1998 – 1999 and 2009 – Lobbying Marine Safety Queensland & reviewing information to exempt schools from boat registrationfees.
  • Establishment of a Boatsafe audit scheme with MSQ and Yachting Queensland to limit the amount of student personal data leaving a school and validating the role of marine teacher in the Boatsafe program.
  • Establishment of the right for Qld Marine Teachers to teach for a BTP and prepare students for their practical exam.
  • Establishing exemption for Qld Marine Studies teachers from additional criminal and blue card checks by Yachting Queensland.

Certificates and licences

  • 2004 – Lobbying Marine Safety Queensland to design a special schools coxswain for teachers.
  • 2010 – Lobbying Marine Safety Queensland to grant exemption from coxswains qualifications for teachers who want to implement the QSA marine approved syllabi.

Curriculum exchange

  • Development of a comprehensive set of lesson plans, worksheets, QCAA approved assessments, excursion notes, risk assessment forms, work programs and teaching materials that members contribute to and share.

Professional development and workshops

  • 1996-1998, 2003 and 2010 – Organising for teachers to visit the Australian Maritime College, so they could engage with current scientific procedures and to engage in science experiences beyond the classroom.
  • Organising Vocational Education workshops and work placements ASTF for teachers and students in the marine science industry.
  • 2004 – 2009 – Organising regional workshops for teachers to implement the MTAQ QSA approved Junior Marine Studies Syllabus.
  • 2017 – Organising Snorkel Guide training – at the Townsville/ Orpheus Island Conference

Conferences

  • The Marine Teachers Association of Queensland has organised Annual conferences at various locations since 1994.
Year Location Title
1994 Stradbroke Island Inaugural Conference-Association Formation
1995 Rockhampton Meeting the Challenge
1996 Mackay Ecotourism and Marine Life
1997 Cairns International Year of the Reef
1998 Hervey Bay International Year of the Ocean
1999 Coolangatta Urban Oceans
2000 Caloundra Oceans
2001 Townsville Reef
2002 Malanda Rainforest to Reef
2003 Mackay Building Bridges
2004 Noosa Sun, Surf and Sea
2005 Southport Oceans Alive
2006 Lady Elliot Explore the Reef
2007 Townsville One Ocean – Our Ocean
2008 Stradbroke Island Marine Parks
2009 Airlie Beach Linking Estuaries, GBR and the Ocean
2010 Tasmania Career Pathways for Students
2011 Lady Elliot
2012 Brisbane
2013 Gold Coast
2014 Maroochydore
2015 Heron Island
2016 Stradbroke Island
2017 Townsville & Orpheus Island Marine Science – Where is it Headed
2018 Tangalooma, Moreton Bay Waves of Change
2019 Holloways EEC & Cairns SHS Waves of the Future
2020 No conference due to COVID
2021 UQ, St Lucia Campus Oceans of Opportunity
2022 Konomie Island EEC Building Skills using the GBR Classroom
2023 Redlands College Connections