Do you love fish? Keeping them as pets or on your dish?

If your passion for keeping marine or freshwater fish is great, we have a course for you! Learn all that you need to know about keeping fish for a hobby, or starting a hobby or commercial fish farm. Why not mix it up, and keep a self sustained eco-system by trying aquaponics? Learn how to create the perfect balance between plants and fish and water, a beautiful art.
Aquarium Management

Aquaculture
Mariculture
Marine Studies I
Marine Studies II

Visit our page on all things Fishy.

Meet our new staff member: Gabriella Vogt
Gabriella has a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience degree from the University of Sydney. Majoring in animal welfare and behaviour she has recently been involved with research into layer hen welfare with the University of Sydney Poultry Research Unit.
She has worked in both the domestic animal and production animal (mainly beef and poultry) industries for a number of years.
She was employed for three years by The University of Sydney Marketing and Student Recruitment Unit. She is currently completing her teaching qualifications at Southern Cross University.

On the Marine theme... have you considered becoming a Marine Biologist?
What do they do?
Marine Biologists usually study organisms which live in marine environments, and their interactions with each other and the surrounding environment. Work can be specific, such as dealing with specific fish species e.g. the effect of the Crown of Thorns Star Fish on the Great Barrier Reef, or less specific - such as examining the effect of human activities on marine environments (eg. sediment runoff, pollution, resource removal).

How to become a Marine Biologist
When starting out in this industry it is beneficial to offer your expertise as a volunteer with either government or non-government organisations. This not only gives you the experience which is so highly desired by employers, but also provides opportunities for future employment.

Varying your skills can also set you apart and broaden your opportunities for further employment. It is good to have a speciality, however this can be limiting when looking for work.

To work as a contractor in this field, you should consider personal indemnity insurance. A Professional Indemnity policy aims to shield the professional's assets in the event of a claim, therefore ensuring that s/he is able to carry on their business. Most of the roles mentioned above are not filled by contractors and are more commonly recruited as casual or permanent positions. To minimise risk of liability, you must investigate and learn about the legal and professional requirements for practicing in this field.

To become a Marine Biologist you will need at least three years undergraduate qualifications and most likely either a Masters or PhD. However, if you would like to start out in this field or try it out before committing yourself to full-time study, you can look to complete vocational courses.

There is also scope for working as a guide or similar in a marine environment without a University qualification, such as a snorkel guide, whale watching guide, scuba guide, whale shark spotter and guide etc.

To get started, study the Certificate in Marine Science with us.

More Christmas Gift Ideas…
Stuck for gift ideas? Purchase a practical and handy hardcover book from our online bookstore:

"Hello… Is that the 5% discount before Christmas offer?”
Our special Christmas Gift to new Students!
Enrol in a course over the phone with ACS before Christmas and you will receive a 5% discount off our Online and Paper-based courses. As an added bonus, you will also receive 3 free ebooks of your choice.
To take up this great offer, please mention it to one of our friendly staff members when you call our office on (07) 5562 1088. Please note that only one discount applies per enrolment.

Treat yourself this Summer

Kick start your 2014 with some new knowledge & skills for your career or personal development
Do you have some spare time this summer? Is it too hot or not hot enough to be outside at the beach? Well go back inside and sign up to one of our short courses.
You can start anytime you like, study in the comfort of your own home and study what you like, we have over 600 courses to choose from. From personal development courses to professional development, there is a course that we have that suits your lifestyle and development needs.
If you were to study one of our 100 hour courses for 10 hours per week, you would be finished in 10 weeks! What's on offer?

ACS Affiliates meet at our Gold Coast Office
The ACS Distance Education Affiliates met at the Gold Coast Offices on Wednesday for the annual meeting. It was great to see everyone and some really great ideas came out of the meeting.

Home Grown Magazine issue 2 out in News Agents now

The beautifully presented Home Grown Magazine issue 2 hits news stands this week - grab your copy today. This issue looks at interesting articles on growing seasonal fruit and vegetables, recipes, and much more.