Vocational

Connection between work, identity, values, and sense of purpose in employment.

The more he thought about last night’s fishing idea, the more he wanted trawler work, but not the kind that stayed months at sea. He liked the feel of wind in his hair, sun on his back, and thrill of the catch. Most importantly, he liked the thought of staying close to the ocean that had already given him and his family so much.

Did he have the skills needed to be a commercial fisherman? What if there was an accident, could he step up? Did he have the physical capacity for the work? Most importantly, would his wife support him switching careers.

His wife wasn’t opposed, but raised practical questions around family impact, especially since they had grown closer through their beach outings. She also wanted to know about wages, sick leave, workers’ compensation, hours of work, and what if he needed time off for a function. Her old self was definitely returning. Talking with his wife showed money mattered, but other aspects needed exploring too.

Armed with these questions, he headed to the harbour to speak with those experienced in the industry. Crews were unloading the catch, cleaning the decks, and preparing for the next trip. One captain waved him on board. Right away the captain bluntly said ‘Not everyone is suited to this work. Physical demands are intense. The only way for you to understand is to experience it yourself.’

Finally the day had arrived where he was going to experience working on a trawler. He was nervous. The morning started well as they chugged out of the harbour. The weather seemed perfect at first, but as they made their way out to sea, clouds began to gather and the wind picked up. Despite this, the crew seemed relaxed.

The day had a rhythm. After the nets went out, the workload became lighter and slower. During these quieter periods, the crew talked and ate. There was an easy camaraderie, joking and swapping stories, yet an underlying readiness that meant they could shift quickly back into action.

When the nets were hauled in heavy with fish, everything changed. The work became fast and relentless. It was back-breaking lifting, handling, and sorting the catch by size and species. It demanded focus, stamina, and precision. Even after the catch was sorted, the work continued. Everything had to be checked, cleaned, and reset for the next haul. As he watched the crew swapping jobs, he realised that he would need training in navigation, reading the weather and engine maintenance.

On the drive home, his body screamed. Muscles ached. Stomach growled. Fatigue seeped into every cell.

Trawler work was nothing like his office job. It wasn’t just the physical differences, nor about the skills required. It was about resilience that came from handling the unpredictable. The changing weather. The variable catches. The daily reliance on others at every step of the operation. It was this unpredictability that made trawler work come alive.

Continuing the drive, he made a mental note of the day. Just like a well-oiled machine, each crew member contributed to the whole, working in smooth coordination. The captain appeared to be key to ensuring this. He managed the crew in a practical, safety-focused way, setting clear expectations. His oversight of how the work was carried out was firm but fair. The trip gave him insight into how the work environment operated, with structure and accountability.

Experiencing the work firsthand had shown him not just what the job demanded, but the need to strengthen his body and adjust his routine to support it. Some gym work, more food, and going to bed earlier would help him manage the physical strain.

The hard work wasn’t a drawback, but part of what made the job feel purposeful. Now, all that remained was to talk it through with his wife, knowing her response would help shape what came next.

A Deeper Understanding

He had been a commercial fisherman for several months now. With increasing competency in the job he was noticing the ocean environment more and people’s impact on it.

The captain regularly reinforced this through reminders to respect the ocean, emphasising that it was central to their livelihood. Nothing was to be thrown overboard, even accidentally. If it was, a fine would be imposed. These expectations shaped how the crew approached their work, linking environmental responsibility directly to their roles.

On one occasion, returning to the harbour he noticed debris, washed up along the shore by the recent storm. It was a clear reminder that what entered the ocean did not simply disappear. It also reinforced the captain’s approach that even small actions taken every day are important.

When he returned home, he told his family what he had observed. What began as a simple conversation about his day soon turned into a discussion about the choices they were already making at home.

One of the girls spoke up, “Dad… you know how we’ve been turning off lights and using less water to save money… do you think that’s helping the environment too?”

In that moment, the connection became clear, not just to him, but to all of them. Saving electricity and water, fishing recreationally instead of buying packaged seafood, maintaining a garden without pesticides, and even skipping high-chemical hair products had all been done for financial savings. Now they understood that these small changes were also supporting the environment.

As they talked, the conversation switched from what they were already doing to what else might be possible. It wasn’t a sudden transformation or a deliberate attempt to be environmental. Instead, it was a gradual realisation that their everyday decisions, first driven by financial pressure, already aligned in many ways with caring for the environment. With that awareness, they could now make future choices more intentionally.

As the conversation settled, he reflected on how far things had come since his redundancy. Putting his family back together had not come from one dramatic change, but from many small gifts the ocean had given over time. There had been space to reflect, new friendships formed, food for the table, honest work that brought renewed purpose, a deeper respect for the environment, and experiences that had slowly drawn his family closer together.

His family was, truly, on the path to thriving.

Understanding the Dimensions

Vocational Wellness

How a person engages with work & daily tasks, and the sense of purpose, structure, & meaning these provide.

Key points: – Finding purpose & direction in what you do. – Building skills, competence, & resilience. – Experiencing engagement & satisfaction in work. – Balancing work with other areas of life. – Navigating a supportive & respectful work environment.

Think about a time when you noticed this dimension in your own life.
Did you see it as a wellness experience in the moment, or have you only noticed it in hindsight?