Students make their mark towards a high-tech future
More than 100 Gladstone students will learn about the high-tech careers available to them in Gladstone’s resources sector when they participate in a series of Queensland Minerals and Energy (QMEA) workshops this week (15th – 19th November) sponsored by Shell’s QGC, and supported by its joint venture partners Tokyo Gas and CNOOC.
The QMEA, the school engagement arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), will encourage students in years 3-10 from Tannum Sands State School, West State School, Chanel College, Toolooa State High School and Gladstone State High School to explore how subjects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) can lead to well-paid and satisfying work, to enable young people to remain in and contribute to their home communities’ careers in local resource operations.
Supported by Shell’s QGC, Dr Damien Kee, a passionate world-renowned educational technologies advocate will lead the curriculum-based workshops and bring the world-class industry technology concepts of robotics, programming, and electronics to life.
QRC’s Director of Skills, Education and Diversity Katrina-Lee Jones said today that the goal of the QMEA is to prepare Queensland students for the workforce of the future, equipping them with the skills to find opportunity in uncertainty.
“Our programs aim to show students how to not just survive but thrive by giving them the tools to get a head start on their careers today,”
“The aim is to encourage students to consider a resources career pathway and highlight the variety of careers in the sector that require STEM skills.”
“These learnt skills not only provide well paid and satisfying work, they enable young people to remain in and contribute to their home communities,” Ms Jones said.
“We always warmly welcome the QMEA workshops to our school as they offer unique opportunities for students to improve their problem solving and communication skills while being offered mentorship and developing connections with real-world industry professionals,” said Toolooa State High School’s Deputy Principal, Jess Batey.
As Australia’s largest and most successful industry-led education and skills training initiative, the QMEA seeks to broaden student and teacher knowledge of career opportunities in resources.
The academy encourages a talent pipeline of employees into VET and STEM-related careers, with a focus on female and Indigenous participation. The QMEA currently engages with 80 schools and is a partnership between the QRC and the Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program.