Tools, trades and copper grades explored in 2-day workshop
Click here for workshop photos.
A site tour to Glencore’s copper refinery was the highlight of a two-day trades workshop for a group of Year 10 trade students from Kirwan State High School this week.
The 20 Vocational Education and Training (VET) students also completed trade activities in a workshop back at school with guidance from tradespeople from Glencore Queensland Metals.
The workshop was delivered by Glencore in partnership with the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).
The site tour on the first day set the scene for the students, giving them physical evidence of the trade roles needed in the resources sector.
During the tour students observed the melting of copper scrap into anodes, industrial scale electrorefining of copper and the use of robotic technology to manufacture copper plates. All of these processes require people in trade and technical roles – like electricians, mechanics and operation technicians.
On the second day of the workshop experienced tradespeople from Glencore helped the students through a variety of practical workshop activities designed to extend their electrical and mechanical skills.
QRC Policy Director – Skills, Education and Diversity, Katrina-Lee Jones said the two-day workshop and site tour gave the students new insights as they consider which trade or technical role they want to focus on as a career.
“Our hope is the site tour and workshop activities have given the students a greater understanding of how important trade roles are for the maintenance of equipment, processing and production of mining materials,” said Ms Jones.
“After this experience they should be feeling confident about continuing their VET studies in Year 11 and 12 as a pathway to the resources sector after school.”
This year the QMEA is celebrating 20 years of inspiring students to follow a trades or science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) study pathway with a focus on the many rewarding career opportunities in the resources sector.