Training

Seagrass-Watch HQ provides training where possible to build the capacity of participants to collect information useful for the ongoing management and protection of important marine resources. Training however is dependent on funds - predominately external. Often, if a group requests training then the group will be required to cover all travel and training expenses. If a group does not have the funds to acquire training, it may be able to either seek experience from another Seagrass-Watch group in an adjacent area, or seek a qualified marine biologist/scientist who is experienced or confident in the Seagrass-Watch protocols (a number of additional validation checks can be put into place by Seagrass-Watch HQ to assist with data QAQC).

Training usually comprises of three components – formal lectures, field training exercise, and laboratory exercise. Training includes hands on experience with standard methodologies used for seagrass mapping and monitoring. Participants are trained to identify local seagrass species, undertake rapid visual assessment methods (% cover), preserve seagrass samples for a herbarium, use a GPS, photograph quadrats and identify presence of dugong feeding trails or other impacts. Formal assessments have recently been introduced as part of the training. Participants are required to score 80% to receive "Certificates of Achievement". Assessments are multiple choice questions, in an open format (participants can work in teams and use resources available).

Follow up training (“refresher”) is an important component of the program to ensure that data collection is rigorous. Training aids have been developed in consultation with the community and include manuals, field data books, and photographic reference sheets.

Quick links

Seagrass-Watch Training

From 1st November 2007, Seagrass-Watch HQ introduced a new tiered level of certification for training. There are requirements before you can attend a course, and a level of achievement to be completed to pass a training course.

Level 1 (basic) requirements = nil

achievement = workshop attendance of classroom, laboratory and field session; achieved 80% of formal assessment (multiple choice, open book)

Level 2 (intermediate) requirements = level 1 and three monitoring events over a 12 month period

achievement = refresher workshop attendance of classroom, laboratory and field session; achieve 80% of formal assessment (multiple choice, open book)

Level 3: Train the trainer (advanced) requirements = level 2 and nine monitoring events over 4 year period

achievement = achieve 80% of formal assessment (written, closed book) + presentation to class (powerpoint etc) + field assessment (demonstrate monitoring techniques and site set up)

Depending on the level of involvement and completion, participants are presented with certificates after attending courses:

Certificate of Achievement = participant successfully completed training course

Certificate of Participation = participant attended only part of a course or did not successfully complete assessment

Certificate of Attendance = participant attended a presentation or field session.

How much does a Seagrass-Watch workshop cost?

Unfortunately, our current funding does not include providing on-ground support (including equipment) or training outside of Queensland. Training workshops are approximately AUS$4500-5000 (excluding airfares), depending on number of participants (generally no more than 25).

Training workshops - 2009

Australia

Whitsunday

Location: To be advised

Participants: To be advised

Sponsors: To be advised

Cooktown

Location: To be advised

Participants: To be advised

Sponsors: To be advised

Townsville

Location: To be advised

Participants: To be advised

Sponsors: To be advised

Pacific

Fiji

Location: To be advised

Participants: To be advised

Sponsors: To be advised

Asia

Singapore

Location: To be advised

Participants: To be advised

Sponsors: To be advised

Workshop Proceedings

Click on the Thumbnails below to download the pdf documents.

Right click and "save target as"

Files listed below are portable document files (pdf) and require the free Acrobat Reader for viewing.


	McKenzie, LJ (2008). Seagrass-Watch: Proceedings of a Workshop for Mapping and Monitoring Seagrass Habitats in North East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, 18–20 October 2008. (Seagrass-Watch HQ, Cairns). 47pp. [1.4Mb]		Mellors, JE and McKenzie, LJ (2008). Seagrass-Watch: Guidelines for the Girringun Rangers. Proceedings of a Workshop for Monitoring Seagrass Habitats in Girringun Sea Country, 3rd & 4th June 2008. (Seagrass-Watch HQ, Townsville). 33pp. [1.8Mb]
	McKenzie, LJ and Yoshida, RL (2008). Seagrass-Watch: Proceedings of a Workshop for Monitoring Seagrass Habitats in Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait, Queensland. Urangan Community Centre, Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens, Hervey Bay, Queensland, 17th – 18th May 2008. (Seagrass-Watch HQ, Cairns). 40pp. [1.2Mb]		Mellors, JE and McKenzie, LJ (2008). Seagrass-Watch: Proceedings of a Workshop for Monitoring Seagrass Habitats in Bowen, 17th May 2008. (Seagrass-Watch HQ, Cairns).24pp. [1.1Mb]
	McKenzie, LJ and Yoshida, RL (2007). Seagrass-Watch: Proceedings of Workshops for Monitoring Seagrass Habitats in South East Queensland. Capalaba Baseball Club, Sheldon, Brisbane, 24th November 2007 and Gecko House, Currumbin, Gold Coast 25th November 2007. (Seagrass-Watch HQ, Cairns). 32pp. (1.03Mb)		Mellors, JE and McKenzie (2007). Seagrass-Watch: Guidelines for Wellesley Island Rangers. Proceedings of a training workshop, Mornington Island October 30-31, 2007 (DPI&F, Cairns). 28pp (1.37Mb)
	McKenzie, L.J. (2007). Seagrass-Watch: Proceedings of a Workshop for Monitoring Seagrass Habitats in the Kimberley Region, Western Australia. Department of Environment & Conservation - Kimberley District Office, Broome, 1st – 2nd September 2007 (Seagrass-Watch HQ, Cairns). 35pp. (1.27Mb)		McKenzie, LJ, Mellors, JE and Yoshida, R (2007). Seagrass-Watch: Proceedings of a workshop for Monitoring Seagrass Habitats in the Whitsunday Region. QPWS Whitsunday Information Centre, Airlie Beach 14th July 2007. (Seagrass-Watch HQ, Cairns). 32pp. (1.4Mb)
	McKenzie, L.J. and Yoshida, R.L. (2007). Seagrass-Watch: Guidelines for Monitoring Seagrass Habitats in the Fiji Islands. Proceedings of a training workshop, Corpus Christi Teachers College, Laucala Bay, Suva, Fiji, 16th June 2007 (Seagrass-Watch HQ, Cairns). 42pp. (1.5Mb)		McKenzie, L.J. (2007). Seagrass-Watch: Guidelines for Philippine Participants. Proceedings of a training workshop, Bolinao Marine Laboratory, University of the Philippines, 9th – 10th April 2007 (DPI&F, Cairns). 36pp. (0.97Mb)
	McKenzie, L.J., Yaakub, S.M., and Yoshida, R.L. (2007). Seagrass-Watch:Guidelines for TeamSeagrass Singapore. Participants. Proceedings of a training workshop, National Parks Board, Biodiversity Centre, Singapore, 24th – 25th March 2007 (Seagrass-Watch HQ, Cairns). 32pp. (944kb)		McKenzie, LJ, and Mellors, JE (2007). Seagrass-Watch: Guidelines for Monitoring Seagrass Habitats in the Burdekin Dry Tropics Region. Proceedings of a training workshop, Arcadian Junior Surf Life Saving Club Townsville, 18th March 2007 (DPI&F, Cairns). 24pp. (753kb)
	McKenzie, LJ and Mellors, JE (2007). Seagrass-Watch: Guidelines for Torres Strait Land & Sea Rangers. Proceedings of a training workshop, Port Kennedy Association Hall, Thursday Island, Torres Strait, 26th February 2007 (DPI&F, Cairns). 36pp (1.20Mb)		McKenzie, L. and Mellors, JE (2006) Seagrass-Watch Proceedings of a Training Workshop for the Townsville Region (913kb)
	McKenzie, L. and Mellors, JE (2006) Seagrass-Watch Proceedings of a Training Workshop for the Mackay region (932kb)		McKenzie, L.J. (2006). Seagrasses. In "WCS and CFMDP Marine Training Program: Course notes. Motupore Island Research Centre, Papua New Guinea, January 29 - February 23 2006". Chapter 5. WCS, PNG. pp. 128-147. (1.2Mb)
	McKenzie, L.J. and Vuki, V. (2002). Seagrass-Watch community involvement workshop, July 2nd, The University of the South Pacific, Fiji. (DPI&F, Cairns). 15pp. (346kb)		McKenzie, L.J. & Campbell, S.J. (2000). Seagrass-Watch Refresher Workshops: Hervey Bay & Great Sandy Strait, February 2001. Seagrass-Watch HQ, Cairns. 7pp. (160kb)
	Lee Long, W.J. & Campbell, S.J. (2000). Seagrass-Watch Information Workshop: Whitsundays June 2000. Seagrass-Watch HQ, Cairns. 7pp. (158kb)		McKenzie, L.J. Coles, R.G. and Lee Long, W.J. (1998) Seagrass-Watch: Guidelines for community groups and volunteers in the Hervey Bay and Great Sandy Strait Region. (QDPI, Cairns). 126pp. (28pp) [1.8Mb]
	McKenzie, L.J., Roder, C.A., Vidler, K.P. and Lee Long, W.J. (1998) Seagrass-Watch: Guidelines for community groups and volunteers in the Whitsunday Region. (QDPI, Cairns). 126pp. (43pp) [3.0Mb]		Example of a Seagrass-Watch flyer (30kb)

Training workshops - 2008

Australia

North East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, October 18–20 - COMPLETED

Location: Melville Bay, Nhulunbuy

Participants: Rangers/facilitators from Dhimurru and NRETAS

Sponsors: Dhimurru Land Management Aboriginal Corporation, the Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport (NRETAS) and Seagrass-Watch HQ

For images from Dhimurru workshop : (CLICK HERE)

To download the Workshop feedback pdf (CLICK HERE)

Cardwell, June 03 - 04 - COMPLETED

Location: Davey 'Buckeroo' Lawrence Training Centre
Particpants: Girringun Sea Rangers
Sponsor: Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, MTSRF, RRRC and DPI&F

For images from Cardwell workshop: (CLICK HERE)

To download the public flyer pdf (CLICK HERE)

To download Seagrass-Watch flyer (CLICK HERE)

Hervey Bay, May 17-18th - COMPLETED

Location: URANGAN COMMUNITY CENTRE, Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens, Elizabeth St, Urangan (Opposite Miller Street)

Participants: Hervey Bay Dugong & Seagrass Monitoring Program and GSS Fauna & Flora Watch

Sponsor: Seagrass-Watch HQ and MTSRF (RRRC)

For images from Hervey Bay workshop : (CLICK HERE)

To download the Workshop feedback pdf (CLICK HERE)

Bowen, May 17th - COMPLETED

Location: Wongabeena (Guide Hut cnr Powell and Brisbane Sts), Bowen

Participants: Bowen Scout Group and local volunteers

Sponsor: Seagrass-Watch HQ, the Marine and Tropical Science Research Facility (RRRC) and DPI&F

For images from Bowen workshop : (CLICK HERE)

To download the Workshop feedback pdf (CLICK HERE)

Pacific

PNG, Motupore Island, October 24–27 - COMPLETED

Location: Motupore Island Research Centre, Bootless Inlet, Port Moresby

Participants: University of Papua New Guinea

Sponsors: UPNG, MIRC, Packard Foundation and Seagrass-Watch HQ

For images from Bowen workshop : (CLICK HERE)

To download the Workshop feedback pdf (CLICK HERE)

Training workshops - 2007

February 26th, Thursday Island, Torres Strait - COMPLETED

Location: PKA Hall Thursday Island

Particpants: Indigenous Rangers from Torres Strait

Sponsor: Land & Sea Management Unit (TSRA)

For images from Torres Strait (Qld) workshop: 26-28 February 2007 (CLICK HERE)

**March 17th, Great Sandy Strait (Field training only) - COMPLETED**

Location: Tinnanbar TN3

Participants: Great Sandy Strait Fauna and Flora

Where to meet: Tinnanbar.

March 18th, Townsville - COMPLETED

Location: Arcadia Bay SLSC at the Rockpool on the Strand

Particpants: Townsville-Thuringowa Seagrass-Watch

Sponsor: Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM

For images from Townsville (Qld)workshop : 18 March 2007 (CLICK HERE)

March 24-25th, Singapore - COMPLETED

Location: NParks BioDiversity Centre, Multi-Purpose Hall. Pierce Depot Road (off Holland Road)
Date: Sat March 24: 1400 - 1730 (workshop); Sun March 25: 0630 - 1200 (field session)
Participants: Team Seagrass- Singapore
Partners/Sponsors: NParks BioDiversity Centre & Seagrass-Watch HQ

For images from Singapore workshop : 24 - 25 March 2007 (CLICK HERE)

April 09-10th, Philippines - COMPLETED

Location: Marine Science Institute, University of Philippines, Bolinao

Date: Mon April 9: 9am

Participants: UNEP/GEF Bolinao Seagrass Demonstration site

Sponsor: UNEP/GEF

For images from Bolinao (Philippines) workshop: 9-10 April 2007 (CLICK HERE)

June 16th, Suva, Fiji - COMPLETED

Location: Corpus Christi Teachers College, Laucala Bay, Suva

Date: 16 June 2007

Sponsor: Seagrass-Watch HQ

For images from Suva workshop : 16 June 2007 (CLICK HERE)

July 14th, Airlie Beach, Queensland - COMPLETED

Location: QPWS Whitsunday Information Centre Airlie Beach, Cnr Shute Harbour & Mandalay Roads, Jubilee Pocket
Participants: Whitsunday QPWS Volunteers
Sponsor: Seagrass-Watch HQ & QPWS

For images from Airlie Beach workshop : 14 July 2007 (CLICK HERE)
To download the Workshop feedback pdf (CLICK HERE)

September 1st - 2nd, Broome, Western Australia - COMPLETED

Location: Department of Environment and Conservation, 111 Herbert Street, Broome
Participants: Environs Kimberley & Kimberley Land Council
Sponsor: Environs Kimberley, Kimberley Land Council & Seagrass-Watch HQ