Local students unearthing trade and STEM careers – Townsville

Images

More than 100 Townsville students will get a taste of trade and STEM professional careers when they take part in workshops run by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) this week – 26th – 28th August.

Supported by Glencore’s Mount Isa Mines and South32’s Cannington Mine, the year 10 students will be able to receive advice from the companies’ employees about their careers during STEM Unearthed and Tradies for a Day workshops.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, some company representatives will be present online and others in person.

The STEM Unearthed event is designed to give students an insight into how science, technology, engineering and maths are used in the resources industry. The Tradies for a Day workshops will give students a great experience of what it’s like to work as a tradie and some of the opportunities in the industry.

“They will also help the students navigate a series of hands-on activities and give advice on subject choices and apprenticeship applications,” said Kirwan State High School Principal Meredith Wenta.

“The students will put concepts from their textbooks to practical use as they learn how to extract copper from ore and explore the lifecycle of a mine from exploration to extraction and rehabilitation,” she said.

“During the Tradies for a Day event students will explore various trade careers through activities related to mechanics, electric and pneumatic circuits and technical drawing and measurement,” said Thuringowa SHS Principal Grant Dale.

“Throughout the day students will get to see how what they are learning at school is relevant in the “real-world” and in particular in the resources sector,” he said.

Principal of Pimlico SHS Joel Buchholz said students and teachers looked forward to these events.

“The hands-on nature of the activities is a real boost to classroom learning and can help students to start setting career goals,” he said.

Fiona Pascoe, Acting Group Human Resources Manager, Glencore Queensland Metals said students would be immersed in a small-scale classroom experiment to help foster an understanding of how minerals are extracted at Mount Isa Mines.

“We hope to inspire a greater interest in the resource sector, an in-depth understanding of some of the mining processes involved, and share the myriad career opportunities available at Mount Isa Mines and the broader industry,” she said.

South32’s Vice President of Operations at Cannington Joe Russell agrees, saying the workshops will give the next generation of scientists, engineers and coders an insight into the central role STEM plays in the minerals and energy sector.

“We are proud supporters of QMEA and our people always enjoy helping students explore study and career options for the future.”

Hastings Deering will also be sending representatives to mentor students in the Tradies for a Day workshop.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) is the peak representative body for Queensland ‘s resource sector. The Queensland resources sector provides one in every five dollars in the Queensland economy, sustains one in seven Queensland jobs, supports more than 14,400 businesses and almost 1400 community organisations across the state, all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass.

The QMEA is a partnership between the QRC and the Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program. It has 75 schools throughout Queensland.

Media contact: Anthony Donaghy 0412 450 360