Burdekin students traded their textbooks for tools when they took part in a hands-on workshop yesterday.

Year 10 students from Home Hill and Ayr State High School worked alongside Braydon Martin, Apprentice Fitter, and Glenn Jarvis, Mechanical Supervisor, from Evolution Mining’s local Mt Carlton Gold Operation as part of the Toolkit4Schoolkids event being held at Ayr State High School.

The Toolkit4Schoolkids program, run by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), provided students with a taste of the trade careers available to them in the resources sector, especially those available locally.

“There are many opportunities for apprenticeships and traineeships within the resources sector, with 16% of QMEA students in apprenticeships going into the mining sector, compared to 2.5% of non-QMEA students in 2018,” said Director Skills Education and Diversity for the Queensland Resources Council Katrina-Lee Jones.

“It’s activities like these, along with the support provided by Evolution that help students identify the post-school pathway that best suits them.”

Mt Carlton’s General Manager, Anton Kruger, said, “Evolution is proud of the local opportunities we provide for young people in the Burdekin, the Whitsundays and the Townsville region, and Braydon Martin is a great example. Commencing his career with us in 2014 as one of five trainees from the Birriah People, Braydon completed a Certificate II in Resource Processing and was offered permanent employment, becoming a very competent processing operator. Braydon then developed a keen interest in maintenance and was awarded the Apprentice Fitter position, whilst also being a member of Mt Carlton’s Emergency Response Team.”

“Evolution is encouraged by the success of QMEA’s programs in attracting young people into trade careers, and Braydon and Glenn are looking forward to sharing their experience and knowledge with the local leaders of tomorrow.”