Click here for ‘Treasures of the Earth’ at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School.

Click here for ‘Tradies for a Day’ at Craigslea State High School.

Click here for ‘Mining for Code’ at Glenala State High School.

Click here for ‘Treasures of the Earth’ at Wavell State High School.

Click here for ‘Pulleys for Productivity’ at Glenala State High School.

Click here for ‘Heavy Hydraulics’ at Bundamba State Secondary College.

In a high-energy conclusion to Term 3, the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) left a trail of excitement across South-East Queensland, igniting six classrooms with a dynamic fusion of science, technology, and trade thrills.

The education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) delivered seven innovative learning experiences, showcasing the rewarding apprenticeship and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) career opportunities available in Queensland’s world-class resources and energy sector.

QRC Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, Ms Katrina-Lee Jones said thanks to support from QRC members, about 200 students from Years 7, 8 and 10 bridged the gap between STEM and trade principles, and real-world applications, forging connections with industries that shape our modern, decarbonising world.

“The education adventures kicked off over two sessions with Year 10 students from Wynnum and Craigslea state high schools trading textbooks for toolboxes as they rotated through trade-based activities like mechanical, electrical, pneumatics and virtual welding, allowing them to get a taste for life as apprentices,” Ms Jones said.

“Pioneering Year 8 students from St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School and Wavell State High School then went on a scavenger hunt to decode the mysteries of the periodic table by unveiling the elemental treasures that power our advanced society.

“From silicon in solar panels, aluminium in deodorants, and tungsten in gaming devices, these young science detectives mined for career gold as they worked in teams to unearth the important role mining plays in everyday life.”

The STEM fun continued at Glenala State High School with the QMEA delivering two popular programs that demonstrated how the resources and energy sector uses both fundamental physics and advanced technologies to improve safety and performance.

“Year 8 students stepped into the digital realm, embracing the power of programming with miniature computers called Arduinos to code a series of flashing LED lights that replicate a safety feature on hard hats,” Ms Jones said.

“Students in Year 7 also uncovered how to tackle real-world challenges with physics ingenuity when they learnt that even with minimal leverage and a simple pulley system, they can achieve maximum efficiency. It was like mine sites moving 5-tonne haul truck tyres with cranes, but in this case, students moved toward in-demand STEM careers.”

Bundamba State Secondary College Principal, Ms Carmen Anderson said Year 8 students had a great time wrapping up Term 3 by putting their teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to the test to build a model-scale hydraulic arm.

“Immersing themselves in the impressive power of engineering, students used plastic tubing and syringes to discover firsthand how non-compressible fluids make hydraulics possible,” Ms Anderson said.

“Students are always fascinated by understanding how classroom concepts translate to real-world scenarios, and this was a fun and engaging way for them to see how a hydraulic mechanism makes the difficult task of lifting or moving heavy objects easy.”

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