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The Queensland Resources Council’s (QRC) education arm, the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), today fired up enthusiasm for a rewarding career in the resources industry among a group of 90 Grade 9 students from Roma State College.

Thanks to Origin Energy as Upstream Operator for APLNG, students were immersed in a unique Lighting the Way workshop that showcased how light properties can improve safety across sites in the resources and energy sector.

QRC Director of Skills, Education, and Diversity, Ms Katrina-Lee Jones said students were always excited to learn that light and the fundamental properties of physics play a significant role in ensuring an alert, safe and efficient working environment.

“Today’s activities saw students complete hands-on activities cleverly delivered within a resources and energy sector context that investigated reflection and refraction,” Ms Jones said.

“They were thrilled to work with representatives from Origin’s operations who guided them through workshop tasks, sharing their first-hand experiences about the enlightening career opportunities the resources and energy sector has to offer.”

Aleta Nicoll, General Manager West for Origin said the natural gas and energy industry employs highly skilled science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) professionals, and today’s workshop helped to showcase some of the many exciting career pathways available.

“Science and technology go hand in hand to make our sites safe and productive, and ensuring site personnel remain visible at all times plays a major role in ensuring the safety of workers.

“One of the tasks today involved placing mirrors in different arrangements to identify the correct model that simulates a type of safety technology called a retroreflector, and the students particularly enjoyed learning how innovative technologies through simple concepts are applied in real-world scenarios,” Ms Nicoll said.

Roma State College Acting Principal, Mr Regan Gant said the workshop allowed the students to understand the practical applications of concepts they’re learning in the classroom and allowed them to bolster their STEM and professional skills.

“During one of the illuminating educational tasks, the students explored how laser technology is used underground in the resources industry to check for potential gas leaks,” Mr Gant said.

“This was a valuable opportunity for them to connect their science curriculum with an industrial challenge, taking advantage of exciting technological advances they can expect when they leave school.”

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 90 schools and is a partnership between the QRC and the Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program.