Personalise my view
Virtual reality induction program for the aquaculture industry
The Australian Prawn Farmers Association (APFA) engaged TAFE Queensland under contract to design and deliver a bespoke Virtual Reality (VR) Induction Program for the aquaculture industry.
Overview
This innovative initiative leverages immersive technology to provide a consistent, engaging and high‑quality induction experience for new and transitioning employees entering the sector.
The program has been rolled out across regional Queensland to leading aquaculture organisations, including Gold Coast Tiger Prawns, Tassal Group (Proserpine and Mission Beach), Australian Prawn Farms Pty Ltd (Ilbilbie), Mainstream Aquaculture Group (Port Douglas), Aquaculture Farmer Group (Illbilbie), Coral Coast Barramundi (Bowen) and Daintree Saltwater Barramundi (Wonga Beach).
Australian Prawn Farmers Association
The Australian Prawn Farmers Association is the peak representative body for Australia’s farmed prawn industry, formed in 1993 to support the development and interests of prawn farmers nationwide. As the united voice of the sector, APFA plays a central role in connecting growers with key stakeholders including researchers, infrastructure suppliers, financiers, retailers, exporters, and government agencies. The Association advocates for sustainable industry growth and is recognised for its leadership in environmental management, industry standards, and responsible aquaculture practices.
Opportunity
The aquaculture industry faces ongoing challenges in attracting, preparing and retaining a skilled workforce—particularly in regional areas and during peak seasons. New workers often come from diverse backgrounds such as mining, rail, the public sector, and recent migration, meaning induction quality and consistency are critical.
Traditional induction methods can be time consuming, variable in delivery, and resource intensive for employers. Industry identified a need for a scalable and engaging induction model that could:
- Offer consistent training across geographically dispersed sites
- Improve safety awareness before new workers enter live farm environments
- Reduce the cost and time associated with on site inductions
- Support recruitment by providing a positive, confidence building first experience
These needs presented an opportunity for an industry wide, technology enabled solution.
Solution
The Australian Prawn Farmers Association (APFA) engaged TAFE Queensland under contract to design, develop, and deliver a VR Pilot Induction Program using immersive simulation technology. The program was co-designed with aquaculture industry experts and replicates real aquaculture environments, safety requirements, and operational workflows to support consistent, compliant workforce induction across the sector.
Delivered using VR headsets—with desktop versions also available—the program allows new employees to:
- Explore realistic farm settings
- Practise safety procedures and protocols
- Understand daily operations before stepping onto a live site
- Build confidence by interacting with farm tasks in a low risk environment
The program is delivered consistently across all participating companies, ensuring every new worker receives the same high quality induction regardless of location or background.
Several participants, coming from backgrounds in mining, rail, and the public sector, shared that this was the best induction they had ever experienced. That speaks volumes about the quality and effort put into this project.
Results
The VR Induction Program has received overwhelmingly positive feedback across all participating organisations. At Tassal, one of Australia’s leading seafood producers, early delivery resulted in strong engagement and highly positive participant responses.
Participants reported that the immersive format made the induction more engaging, memorable and practical than traditional approaches. Industry partners highlighted improvements in:
- Induction quality and consistency across multiple sites
- Worker preparedness before entering operational environments
- Recruitment outcomes, with new workers feeling more confident and informed
- Operational efficiency, reducing time and cost associated with onsite induction
The statewide rollout continues to strengthen collaboration between industry partners and TAFE Queensland, demonstrating the power of co designed innovation.
Acknowledgement and legacy alignment
This work builds on foundations established through the Aquaculture and Agriculture Tech Skills Hub (AgTech Skills Hub), delivered by TAFE Queensland with CQUniversity Australia and the Queensland Government. The Hub was jointly funded by the Australian Government under the Regional Recovery Partnerships, Greater Whitsunday Alliance and Regional Development Australia.
The AgTech Skills Hub focused on digital capability, technology adoption, and industry led pilots across aquaculture and agriculture. Its outcomes directly informed the co design approach, industry engagement, and delivery model used in the VR Induction Program.
The AgTech Skills Hub partnership was recognised as a top three finalist for the 2025 Queensland Training Awards Industry Collaboration Award. This recognition reflects the strength of the partnership model and its practical impact for industry.
The VR Induction Program extends this legacy by translating earlier capability building work into a scalable, operational workforce solution.
Future plans
Building on the success of the pilot program, TAFE Queensland and APFA plan to expand VR offerings across the aquaculture sector and explore opportunities to adapt the model for other industries. Future development may include:
- Additional VR modules covering specialised aquaculture tasks
- Customisable content for individual farms or companies
- Broader application across agriculture, manufacturing, and other regional industries
- Further integration with workforce development and training pathways
TAFE Queensland remains committed to delivering innovative, scalable and industry led workforce solutions.