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Brisbane students will have quite the enlightening experience when the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) visits Craigslea State High School today (22 April).

The QMEA, the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), will present its ‘Lighting the Way’ workshop to more than 25 Year Nine students who will learn how the properties of light are used in safety, and how these days retroreflectors are being used effectively in signs and road markings in place of electronic signs.

“The session builds on knowledge of how light travels and investigates the method by which retroreflectors are a means of passive light reflection,” said QRC’s Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, Katrina-Lee Jones.

“Their use within the resources sector is explored and students will discover how they underpin safety on a mine site,” she said.

“The students will also set up lasers and mirrors to see how the placement of the mirrors can cause the light to be reflected to the source. The session will also link to health and safety roles in the minerals and energy industries and how important these jobs are.

“The resources sector is currently looking to fill more than 600 health and safety jobs in Queensland, so it looks like there are good career prospects in this field if this is a career that appeals to them.”

“QMEA programs are always a great opportunity for our students to explore potential career opportunities within the resources sector,” said Craigslea State High School Principal, Mark Farwell.

As Australia’s largest and most successful industry-led education and skills training initiative, the QMEA seeks to broaden student and teacher knowledge of career opportunities in resources.

The academy encourages a talent pipeline of employees into VET and STEM-related careers, with a focus on female and Indigenous participation. Currently engaged with 80 schools, the QMEA is part of the Gateway to Industry Schools Program, proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government.

The QRC is Queensland’s peak representative body for coal, metal and gas explorers, producers and suppliers across the resources sector. It contributes one in every five dollars to the Queensland economy, sustains one in six Queensland jobs, supports more than 15,000 businesses and contributes to more than 1,200 community organisations across the state – all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass.

Ends. 

Media contact: Ellie Blumel – 0448122948 or ellieb@qrc.org.au