In a first for two Brisbane schools, students have learnt what it takes to produce the raw materials that make the things we use every day.

And, they also learnt about the myriad of careers available in the technologically advanced burgeoning Queensland resources sector.

Students from Holland Park State High School travelled to Cannon Hill Anglican College for a STEM4SchoolKids workshop conducted by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).

In hands-on activities aligned with their classroom learning, they learnt about the lifecycle of mining from exploration to extracting minerals and processing them into metals.

“I know the students have been looking forward to this event, which will help bring their classroom work to life by demonstrating how it’s applied in the real world,” said Cannon Hill Principal Gary O’Brien.

“It’ll also help students to understand some of the requirements for STEM-related careers,” he said.

“It’s important for city-based students to understand the opportunities provided by the resources sector,” said Katrina-Lee Jones, Director Skills Education and Diversity with the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

“It’s not something they are as readily exposed to as students in resources regional centres and we hope it’ll be an eye-opening experience for them.”