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Miles State High School Year 10 students have forged a dedicated and bespoke career journey through a resourceful school-based workshop created by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

With support from Origin Energy, for the first time the QMEA delivered a hands-on workshop that integrated matched career profiles to students’ personal interests and natural skills, while highlighting the importance of a wide range of skills needed in Queensland’s gas industry.

QRC Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, Ms Katrina-Lee Jones said this new ‘Careers4ME’ initiative, created in response to requests from QMEA-affiliated schools and QRC member companies, and a growing need to build knowledge among Gen-Z about the wide opportunities available in the sector, will raise student and teacher awareness of the various career opportunities both within and more broadly outside of the resources sector.

“Yesterday’s workshop kicked off with 25 students completing a personality quiz to create a personalised report highlighting how their characteristics and interests align with real-world careers,” Ms Jones said.

“By helping students, particularly in secondary school, understand how their strengths and passion translate into rewarding career opportunities, ‘Careers4ME’ can play a critical role in helping our industry build a sustainable talent pipeline for years to come.”

Steve Thatcher, General Manager Asset East for Origin, said students took the results from their career profiles and chose which roles they would excel in when developing their own team’s simulated gas pipeline as part of their project.

“Students completed hands-on activities that investigated fundamentals of gas extraction, the use of sensors for real time feedback and effective gas pressure management under the mentorship of Origin representatives,” Mr Thatcher said.

“This unique activity showcased the practical applications of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) in the gas industry, and students gained a deeper understanding of the diverse career pathways available – hopefully matched to some of their career profiles.”

Miles State High School Principal, Mrs Josette Moffatt said yesterday’s workshop helped students develop a greater appreciation for the importance of identifying professional pathways that align with their personal interests and values.

“These students are at a pivotal time in their education journey and will soon be choosing subjects for their final years of senior school,” Mrs Moffatt said.

“This experience was a fantastic opportunity for them to discover how STEM studies can lead to exciting careers and the many local jobs on offer in the resources and energy sector.”

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