Avoca Residential School Ships
Our students study Cert.3 Outdoor Recreation, managed by a State School as a 3 year VEtiS Tech.
Students build "Sea Time" in their personal log for a future in the boating industry, by helping boat hirers or owners with operation and maintenance of their river boats.
The Murray River: Our Living and Learning Environment
Step aboard TS Mundoo, a unique floating campus where the iconic Murray River becomes your home and your training ground. This full-time residential backpacker-style program offers an immersive "living-learning" environment. While the river's sheltered reaches provide a safe, structured space for developing foundational skills, its winding channels, shifting sandbars, snags, and changing currents offer authentic, real-world challenges that build true resilience and sharp maritime instincts.
By living and training on board, you will master the art of rivermanship while becoming an integral part of a close-knit shipboard community.
Program Overview: Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation Leadership provided by SA Gov VETiS Tech High School.
(Focus: Helping Other Boats, River Guiding, Boating, Kayaking & Group Logistics)
This comprehensive, three-year full-time VETiS Cert.III program goes far beyond standard classroom instruction. The TS Mundoo operates as a fully self-contained working commercial vessel, delivering specialized, fully catered school camp packages to visiting schools and community groups.
As an enrolled student, you will work directly alongside the Ship’s Master and professional crew. You aren't just a passenger; you are part of the team operating the vessel, managing visiting school groups, and running the shipboard galley.
Key Cert.III Focus Areas:- Rescue Skills Training, First Aid, River Adventure Activities Leadership, Family and Schools, Riverbank camping.
Rivermanship & Vessel Operations:
Master the specific arts of river navigation, Canoeing, Kayaking
Handling river vessel in confined waters,
tracking river heights, and reading hidden underwater hazards.
Volunteer Crew, especially helping older Houseboat Hirers.
Commercial Crew Experience:
Work side-by-side with the Ship's Master,
Build supervised logbook hours and learn the mechanics of running a professional river enterprise.
Assist teachers working with school camps.
Galley Operations & Catering Skills:
Learn the essential skills of high-volume hospitality.
You will gain hands-on experience in menu planning, food safety, and budgeting,
Prepare and serve fully catered meal programs for hungry camp groups.
Group Leadership & Facilitation:
Take charge of logistics, safety, and outdoor recreation activities for visiting school groups during their camp program.
Experienced Kayaker group escort.
Experienced waterski instructors.
Residential Management:
Develop high-level communication, conflict resolution,
Supervise teamwork skills by managing a shared living space
Work in space with peers and guests.
The 3-Year Cert 3 Pathway
Year 1: Foundations; River Literacy & Seamanship.
Adapt to residential life on the Mundoo, master basic boat handling, and learn the fundamentals of food safety and commercial galley prep. + Hours of Kayaking exercise and water rescue.
Year 2: Application; Operational Crewing & Catering.
Work closely with the Master and crew to operate the ship and take a hands-on role in planning and preparing meals for the 4-week school camps.+ Hours of Kayaking exercise and water rescue.
Year 3: Leadership Camp & Galley Management
Take on senior leadership roles, overseeing shipboard logistics, managing meal execution for large groups, and instructing visiting students, + Hours of Kayaking exercise and water rescue.
True outdoor leaders don't just know how to guide a boat; they know how to feed a crew, manage a budget, and keep a residential community running smoothly. Graduate with an unmatched competitive edge in the tourism, maritime, and education sectors.
The Evening Program: Riverbank Campfires Programs
When the sun goes down, the TS Mundoo moors securely along the Murray River banks for the night. This transition shifts the focus from commercial maritime operations to community bonding, leadership, and performance arts training around a traditional campfire when there is no fire ban.
Campfire Entertainment & Arts Pathways: The evening campfire serves as a natural amphitheater and performance space. Students rotate roles to coordinate, MC, and execute the evening program. Activities include acoustic music sessions, vocal ensembles, choir rehearsals, bush poetry, story reading, and live stage performance formatting.
Outdoor Leadership & Risk Assessment: Managing an overnight riverbank mooring and building a safe campfire gives students practical experience in outdoor recreation leadership. They handle risk assessments, environmental impact checks, campfire safety protocols, and low-impact wilderness camping ethics.
Mental Health & Reflection: The campfire setting provides a structured, supportive space for peer-to-peer connection and mental health debriefs. Under the guidance of skilled staff, students use this time to reflect on their daily personal logs, build resilience, and strengthen communication skills away from digital distractions.
TS Mundoo will be both home and campus for the 3 year full time Residenial Cert 3 students.
School ships are river wanders, they can work anywhere and park anywhere at night for sleep time
All students must maintain First Aid. We do regular updates onboard.
Watch our Calendar and join in to update yours first aid.
"TS Mundoo" lead school ship
Kayaking and swimming
