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New career pathways and industry connections were made by Year 9 students at a workshop delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) today.

The Collinsville State High School students participated in a Beakers.Bots.Build workshop and spent the day completing hands-on activities like robotic programming and engineering design thanks to the generous support of workshop sponsors Glencore Coal.

Anna Reeves, Principal at Collinsville SHS, said the workshop gave the students a unique opportunity to explore their interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects and get a better understanding of how these topics are integrated into the resources industry.

“The best way to build the students’ understanding of a sector is through practical experience and they got plenty of that today,” said Ms Reeves.

Anthony Exelby, Human Resources Manager at Glencore Coal said they were proud to be involved in a workshop designed to give students insight into the skills and professional roles needed in the resource sector.

“Workshops like these are essential for bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world applications. By working together with industry, students gain valuable insights and skills that will serve them well in future careers in the resource sector,” Mr Exelby said.

The QMEA is the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and Katrina-Lee Jones, QRC Director for Skills, Diversity and Education said the resources and energy sector is continually seeking to adapt new technologies and innovations which improve productivity, safety and sustainability.

“So, it is essential secondary students, interested in a STEM career, are encouraged to pursue this dream as these are the people who will graduate with the skills and knowledge to support the industry to adapt and innovate,” she said.

“Today’s workshop was designed to give the students a real-world context to learning STEM and give them a new perspective of what a career in the resources industry involves.”

The QMEA is an industry-led education initiative and is now in 100 public, private and independent Queensland schools, thanks to support from Qld Resources Council members and industry sponsors. It is part of the Gateway to Industry Schools program supported and funded by the Queensland Government.

For more information about starting a resources career visit: shapeyourfuture.com.au