Click here for photos of Tradies for a Day.

Click here for photos of STEM Unearthed.

In a thrilling display of innovation and opportunity, the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) is delivering two popular workshops in Mount Isa over the next week.

These workshops will showcase the endless possibilities of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) and trade-based careers in the resources sector.

Thanks to support from Glencore Queensland Metals, Year 10 students from Good Shepherd Catholic College will gain valuable insights into the diverse job opportunities available in their hometown and the pathways they can take to get there.

The QMEA is the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

QRC Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, Ms Katrina-Lee Jones said engaging with students before they select their subjects for Years 11 and 12 plays a critical role in guiding their tertiary education or vocational training journey.

“About 20 students from Good Shepherd Catholic College will today get hands-on experience in trade-based activities such as auto electrical, pneumatics, welding, and engineering measurement,” Ms Jones said.

“The resources and energy sector continues to experience an enduring demand for trade professionals, and the QMEA’s ‘Tradies for a Day’ workshop is the perfect forum for these young men and women to sample some exciting trades under the guidance of experienced industry professionals.”

Glencore Mount Isa Mines Manager, Human Resources and Training, Ms Fiona Pascoe said with the support of QMEA, Glencore Queensland Metals can show students the dual benefits of trades and science pathways to careers in the resources and energy sector.

“Next Wednesday, we’re excited to be delivering another educational experience with QMEA to about 30 Year 10 students from Shepherd Catholic College again,” Ms Pascoe said.

“The ‘STEM Unearthed’ workshop will demonstrate how skills picked up in the classroom can translate to real-world applications in the resources and energy sector, in areas like chemistry, process engineering, modelling and problem-solving, and critical thinking.”

Good Shepherd Catholic College Principal, Ms Kathleen McCarthy said these workshops are a fun and relevant way to highlight the diversity of career opportunities available to students who pursue excellence in STEM subjects or vocational training.

“We know the next generation is passionate about careers that make a difference to people, the planet, and prosperity,” Ms McCarthy said.

“These workshops will cleverly showcase how important topics like sustainability and technological innovation strongly align with the resources sector, opening doors for them to a potential rewarding career.

“During ‘STEM Unearthed’, students will extract metal ore from rocks, run their own mini mines which will need to be rehabilitated, and then engineer the perfect drink of water, allowing them to not only bolster their STEM expertise, but also their teamwork and active listening skills.”

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

The academy encourages a talent pipeline of employees into vocational and professional careers, with a focus on female and Indigenous participation. The QMEA currently engages with 91 schools and is a partnership between the QRC and the Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program.