Combining study and impact through the OzFish Young Leaders Program

OzFish is dedicated to ensuring ongoing pathways and professional development opportunities are accessible for students and early career graduates, even after their placement with us has been completed.

We work collaboratively with universities across Australia to upskill and support young people, opening pathways to create future leaders in natural resource management and steer recreational fishing towards a sustainable future.

Read how James Cook University student Mia Beki is combining her environmental science studies with hands-on experience in fish habitat restoration through the OzFish Young Leaders Program.

Mia Beki, JCU Student

I’m Mia, a second-year undergraduate student studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science. I grew up fishing and camping, and it was through those experiences that I found my love for the environment and the drive to help preserve it. I wanted to gain work experience with an organisation I felt genuinely connected to – and I first discovered OzFish while working at BCF in high school.

For me, it was a no-brainer that the Young Leaders position would be the perfect fit. I’ve always believed in OzFish’s goals, and that personal connection has made it incredibly motivating to be part of the organisation.

I’m fortunate to be working with Phil, the Project Manager for Far North Queensland, and I’ve taken on partial responsibility for the Cairns Saltwater Creek/Lily Creek restoration project. Through this project, we’re undertaking habitat restoration and improving wetland connectivity across the Saltwater and Lily Creek catchments. It’s given me the chance to collaborate with local recreational fishers, Cairns Regional Council, Traditional Owners the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, and other passionate community members and organisations.

The habitat in these creeks has been severely degraded due to pollution, urbanisation, and poor connectivity. Our aim is to restore Saltwater and Lily Creek to improve water quality and, ultimately, benefit local fishing. The long-term goals I’ll be working on include the removal or modification of at least three fish barriers, along with habitat restoration in sections of the upper Saltwater Creek and Lily Creek catchments.

So far, I’ve had the opportunity to co-run the Australia Day Cleanup, which was held at one of our project sites on Lily Creek. It was a huge success – we collected 18 bags of rubbish, plus a few unexpected items like mattresses, bikes, and shopping trolleys!

I’ve also met with council stakeholders and learned about the process of presenting ideas for project planning. Behind the scenes, I’ve been getting familiar with social media and email communications, and learning how to use them to spread awareness, get people involved, and share educational content.

As the project progresses, I’ll be supporting fish surveys in Saltwater and Lily Creek, which are important nursery habitats for many native species. I’m proud of how well I’ve been able to apply what I’ve learned in my studies to real-world fish habitat restoration projects. OzFish has helped me grow in confidence when engaging with the community, and I’ve come to realise just how powerful it is when people come together to support a shared cause.

The OzFish team is incredibly grateful for Mia’s outstanding contribution in Far North Queensland. It’s been a pleasure working alongside her over the past few months, and we’re excited to continue supporting her throughout the rest of her placement and early career.

To learn more or apply for the Young Leaders Program, follow the link below.