Click here for photos of the Big Day of STEM workshops at Miles SHS and Chinchilla SHS

Students at Miles and Chinchilla State High Schools are ending the school year with a bang, some bright sparks and plenty of powerful ideas with both schools hosting a Big Day of STEM workshop during the week.

The workshop was delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) in partnership with Origin Energy – the upstream operator for Australia Pacific LNG – who sponsored the event and had team members on hand to help guide the students through a series of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) challenges.

Miles State High School principal, David Armstrong, said the full-day workshop with a mix of experiments, problem-solving and critical thinking was the perfect way to wrap up science studies for the year.

“The students were excited to work in groups and put their STEM knowledge to the test as they completed the engineering, physics and robotic activities,” said Mr Armstrong.

Origin General Manager Asset East, Steve Thatcher, said his team was proud to partner with the QMEA to deliver bespoke workshops at schools throughout the year.  

“These STEM workshops provide valuable insight into and understanding of activities in the energy sector, making them highly engaging for students given the significant role the gas industry plays in their communities. 

“As the energy sector grows and we work towards the energy transition, it’s important to inspire the next generation by showcasing career opportunities, which is why our team members value the chance to spark interest by sharing their own career stories,” Mr Thatcher said.

Queensland Resources Council Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, Katrina-Lee Jones said the STEM Big Day workshops were the final QMEA workshops for the year.

“It has been another huge year for the QMEA, with our team delivering over 230 workshops across Queensland in 2024,” Ms Jones.

“Our work inspires students to continue STEM or trade study pathways in school and excite them about the career opportunities in the energy and minerals sector, which I am sure has happened in Miles and Chinchilla this week.”

For more information about careers in the resources sector visit: shapeyourfuture.com.au