In a first for Millmerran State P-10 School students, they’ll experience trade and professional careers this week in an event run by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).

Thanks to the support from Millmerran Power, about 30 students will explore careers in science technology engineering and maths (STEM) fields, and trade pathways. The combined STEM 4 SchoolKids and Toolkit day will help year nine students to decide on topics for study in senior years.

Millmerran Power’s Safety and Site Services Manager Neil Burtenshaw said it was important for students to experience careers available to them in the resources sector, and how to set themselves up for these career pathways.

“Millmerran Power understands the need for students to learn career options at a young age and through the QMEA they’ll develop the skills required in our increasingly technologically-based work environment,” said Mr Burtenshaw.

“It’s very much a part of our philosophy to support the communities in which we operate and provide opportunities for local people, particularly our young folk.”

Millmerran Principal Jenny Kent said the workshops encourage the students to seek careers that allow them to remain in the region, or return once they’ve completed tertiary studies.

“STEM 4 SchoolKids provides a series of hands-on activities including experimental and problem-based challenges. It enables them to interact with industry representatives who provide advice and mentoring,” Ms Kent said.

The Toolkit program gives the students an opportunity to talk to apprentices, tradies and operators from the resources sector and quiz them on their current roles, and their career pathways. The students also participate in hands-on trade-based activities that they would experience in the real-world.

Teachers won’t miss out either with a separate QMEA workshop designed for them.

They will be at least a few steps ahead of their students following an Introduction to Arduino teacher professional development workshop. Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software, which helps teachers to make their classes more interactive.

The QMEA is the education and skills arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and is a partnership between the QRC and the Queensland Government under the Gateway to Industry Schools Program.