A successful school fishing clinic in Inverloch showcases how Fishcare Victoria and local angling clubs are working together to overcome barriers, share expertise and create more opportunities for community fishing.
Around 60 enthusiastic Year 3 and 4 students from Inverloch/Kongwak Primary School enjoyed a fantastic introduction to recreational fishing on Friday, 9 October, through a collaborative fishing clinic delivered by Fishcare Victoria and the Anderson Inlet Angling Club (AIAC). With beautiful spring weather, plenty of eager young anglers and a dedicated team of volunteers, the three-hour clinic at Inverloch’s Glade and Pensioner Point was a wonderful success. But beyond the excitement of casting lines and catching fish, the day represented something equally important — a new approach to supporting local angling clubs to share their skills, knowledge and passion for fishing with their communities.
Breaking Down Barriers to Community Fishing
Across Victoria, angling clubs play an important role in recreational fishing. Their members bring decades of practical experience, valuable local knowledge and a genuine enthusiasm for introducing others to the sport. However, delivering organised fishing clinics, particularly for schools and community groups, isn’t always straightforward. Insurance requirements, occupational health and safety obligations, risk assessments, volunteer training, group fishing licence arrangements and administration can all present significant challenges for volunteer-run clubs. While clubs may have the people, passion and expertise to deliver a fantastic fishing experience, they don’t always have the resources or administrative infrastructure needed to navigate these requirements.
Fishcare Victoria is working to change that.
Through its proposed Angling Club Clinic Partnership Program, Fishcare is developing a supported pathway that enables angling clubs to deliver safe, accessible and well-structured community fishing clinics within an established educational and operational framework. The model brings together the strengths of both organisations: Fishcare Victoria’s experience in education, volunteer management, safety procedures and program delivery, alongside the local knowledge, practical fishing skills and community connections of angling clubs. Participating clubs will be supported through volunteer induction, practical training, clinic delivery guidance and administrative processes, with access to appropriate insurance and group fishing licence arrangements for approved activities. The program also aims to give good-quality, used Fishcare equipment a second life by donating suitable rods, reels and resources to participating clubs. The ultimate goal is simple: make it easier for angling clubs to do what they do best — share their love of fishing with their communities.
A Successful First Step in Inverloch
The Inverloch clinic was the first pilot activity involving Fishcare Victoria, Anderson Inlet Angling Club and Inverloch/Kongwak Primary School. Approximately 60 students were divided into three groups, rotating through a series of hands-on activities designed to build confidence, develop fishing skills and promote responsible fishing practices. Seven Fishcare staff and volunteers, six Anderson Inlet Angling Club members, teachers and school parents worked together to guide students through the program.
Learning the Basics
Students began by learning essential fishing skills, including knot tying, rod rigging, fish identification and marine awareness. They explored Victorian recreational fishing regulations, learning how to measure fish using Victorian Fisheries Authority measuring stickers and understand size and catch limits. The emphasis was on helping students become not just capable anglers, but responsible ones.
Building Confidence Through Practice
Next came casting practice, with students learning how to handle a fishing rod and cast safely using hook-free equipment. Specially designed plastic fish were positioned across the grass, challenging students to develop their coordination and accuracy as they attempted to land a practice catch. With plenty of encouragement from volunteers, teachers and parents, the activity was filled with enthusiasm, teamwork and a wonderful sense of achievement.
The Excitement of a Real Catch
Finally, students headed to the sparkling waters of Anderson Inlet to put their new skills into action. With guidance from experienced Fishcare and angling club volunteers, students learned how to bait a hook, cast into the water, recognise a bite and safely handle their catch. And the fish were biting! Each group successfully caught fish, including Australian Salmon and King George Whiting and a crab, creating plenty of excitement and some very proud young anglers. The experience also provided opportunities to reinforce responsible fish handling, identification, catch-and-release practices and the value of fish as a healthy food source. For many students, it was an unforgettable introduction to recreational fishing.
Celebrating the People Behind the Success
The success of the day was a testament to the commitment and generosity of everyone involved. Fishcare Victoria extends a huge thank you to the members of Anderson Inlet Angling Club, whose local knowledge, practical expertise and willingness to share their time made an enormous contribution to the program. Their involvement demonstrated the valuable role local fishing clubs can play in introducing the next generation to recreational fishing. We also acknowledge the teachers and parents from Inverloch/Kongwak Primary School, along with our dedicated Fishcare staff and volunteers, for creating such a welcoming, supportive and well-organised experience. And of course, a special congratulations goes to the students themselves! Their enthusiasm, curiosity, excellent behaviour and willingness to give everything a go made the clinic a pleasure to deliver. It was a true team effort, with every participant contributing to a successful and memorable day.
A Model for the Future
The Inverloch clinic represents an encouraging first step in exploring how Fishcare Victoria and local angling clubs can work together to increase community participation in recreational fishing. The proposed partnership model aims to build the confidence and capability of participating clubs through practical training, supported clinic delivery and ongoing guidance. Under the proposed program, nominated angling club members would become registered Fishcare Victoria volunteers and participate in two supported clinics before progressing towards independently delivering approved activities under Fishcare’s established framework. By reducing some of the organisational barriers associated with community clinics, Fishcare hopes to help local clubs create more opportunities for schools, families, beginners and people of all abilities to discover recreational fishing. Just as importantly, the approach recognises and builds upon the invaluable contribution local angling clubs already make to Victoria’s recreational fishing community. Fishcare Victoria is trialling this model with Anderson Inlet Angling Club and Warneet Angling Club, using feedback from participating members to refine the approach and explore opportunities for broader delivery. The lessons from these pilot activities will help inform the program’s future development.
Stronger Partnerships, More Opportunities
For Fishcare Victoria, this initiative is about more than delivering individual fishing clinics. It’s about building stronger relationships, recognising the expertise of local volunteers and finding practical ways to make community fishing education more accessible and sustainable. By combining resources, experience and enthusiasm, we can support angling clubs to confidently engage their communities, introduce new participants to recreational fishing and promote responsible fishing practices for future generations.
Because when we work together, more Victorians have the opportunity to learn to fish, learn to care.
Is Your Angling Club Interested?
Fishcare Victoria welcomes conversations with angling clubs interested in supporting community fishing education.
Through our developing Angling Club Clinic Partnership Program, we’re exploring ways to provide training, resources and practical support to help clubs deliver safe, inclusive and engaging fishing experiences.
