15 September 2020

Home Hill and Ayr State High School Year 9 students will be set a task to create some gold-plated designs today when they demonstrate their skills to representatives from Evolution Mining Mount Carlton.

In a Beakers.Bots.Build workshop run by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), the students will use Lego EV3 robots and create an “ore sorting” device from craft materials in their exploration of mining processes.

Students will learn the importance of teamwork, communication and problem solving, as well as receive some first-hand advice from the Evolution crew about the many and varied career options and pathways into the resources sector.

“We are delighted to participate in these activities with the Burdekin Year 9 students and venture back into the classroom with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions,” said Evolution Mining’s Health, Safety and Community Manager Mark Brown.

“Evolution Mining is a proud supporter of QMEA activities. We try to open students’ eyes to the many possibilities in the resources sector which they may not otherwise have thought about. We also focus on female and Indigenous students.”

Ayr State High School Principal Craig Whittred said the activities also helped students to see how their studies relate to the world of work.

‘It really helps students when they can see how complex concepts are used in the real world,” Mr Whittred said.

The QMEA is a partnership between the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and the Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program. Throughout Queensland 75 schools take part.

QRC is the peak representative body for Queensland’s resource sector. The Queensland resources sector provides one in every five dollars in the Queensland economy, sustains one in seven Queensland jobs, supports more than 14,400 businesses and almost 1400 community organisations across the state, all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass.

Media contact: Anthony Donaghy 0412 450 360