Click here for photos of the Heavy Hydraulics workshop

Click here for photos of the Trades and Traineeships workshop

From mining site operations to the science laboratory, local students have been improving their knowledge and exploring future careers in recent workshops delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).

Year 9 students from Biloela State High School and Redeemer Lutheran College have been immersed in a Trades and Traineeships workshop at Batchfire’s Callide mine site this week, which follows a successful physics workshop delivered by the academy for students in Years 7,8 and 9.

Both workshops were facilitated in partnership with Batchfire Resources who had members of their Callide team on hand, sharing their knowledge, skills and career stories.

Biloela SHS principal, Natasha Bunn, said the students embraced the opportunity to learn from industry experts on site.

“The trades workshop this week at the Callide mine was a real eye-opener for the students,” Ms Bunn said.

“They have gained a new perspective on the important role trades play in exploration, equipment maintenance and the processing of resources in a mining operation like Callide,” she said.

“Following a site tour the Year 9 students were able to talk with the Batchfire team about traineeships and apprenticeship pathways, which is valuable information as they are starting to make decisions about their future direction.”

The QMEA is the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and has been delivering education workshops connecting students with the resources industry for the last 20 years.

Katrina-Lee Jones, QRC Policy Director – Skills, Education and Diversity, said the partnership between the QMEA and Batchfire had been a great benefit to local students.

“The Batchfire team are keen to engage Biloela students in their operations and the resources industry as a whole,”‘ said Ms Jones.

“By partnering with us to deliver STEM and trade workshops and taking students on site to get a better understanding of resource operations, they are making a big impression on young people who may one day become a part of the resources workforce.