Click here for Blackwater SHS workshop photos.

From virtual haul trucks to hands‑on trade challenges, local secondary students have discovered just how exciting a trade career in mining can be with a Tradies for a Day workshop giving students the chance to learn from real‑world experts.

A group of eighteen Year 10 students from Blackwater State High School put their trade skills to the test during the workshop delivered this week by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) in partnership with Coronado Global Resources.

The workshop was designed to give students a realistic insight into the vital role that trades play in the resources sector and the apprenticeship pathways available to them beyond school.

This year’s program also featured cutting-edge technology, with students using virtual reality (VR) to experience welding, haul truck driving and complete a vehicle maintenance check in a simulated mine-site environment.

The students rotated through hands-on challenges covering mechanics, electronics, pneumatics and automotive skills, working side-by-side with experienced tradespeople from Coronado.

Peter Murphy, Manager – Organisational Capability at Coronado Global Resources, said engaging with local students was critical to building the future workforce.

“Workshops like this are about sparking interest and showing students what jobs are possible in resource operations close to their home,” Mr Murphy said.

 “There is continual demand for tradespeople in our industry, and by connecting with students early, we hope to help them see exactly how vocational studies at school can lead to real-world careers in our industry.”

Rebecca Vitale, Principal at Blackwater State High School said the opportunity for students to immerse themselves in a full day of trades was invaluable.

“Spending an entire day focused on trade skills allows students to build confidence, try new things and find out more about trade apprenticeships,” Ms Vitale said.

“Hearing directly from tradespeople about their career journeys helps students make informed decisions about their future and the subjects they need to study in their final years at school.”

For more information about resources careers visit: shapeourfuture.com.au