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School students were doing plenty of heavy lifting outside of the gym yesterday and in the science laboratory where they explored the power of hydraulics with the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) in partnership with Thiess.

The class of Year 7 and 8 students from Whitsunday Anglican School and St Patrick’s College worked in teams to design and build a model hydraulic arm.

The students then tested the efficiency of their models using water as a force – giving them a better understanding of how hydraulics can be applied in heavy equipment used in the resources sector.

Workshop partner, Thiess, had some of their team to guide the students and explain how hydraulics are used on a worksite in equipment like drills and diggers.

Eliza Young, Senior Advisor Social Performance at Thiess, said partnering with the QMEA on initiatives like this reflects the company’s investment in education pathways and skills development.

We’re proud to support workshops that not only connect classroom learning with practical applications but also give students an early insight into the range of careers available in mining and resources,” Eliza said.

“Partnerships like this are about creating opportunities, inspiring future talent and building strong links between industry and community.”

Katrina-Lee Jones, Director for Skills, Education and Diversity at the Queensland Resources Council, said the QMEA workshop had been designed to complement the national science curriculum and create a bridge between education and industry.

“At the start of high school students are delving into more specific science subjects and starting to make connections between their studies and the world around them,” said Ms Jones.

“Today’s workshop has given the students a real-world understanding of physics and hydraulic power while building on their critical thinking and group work skills,” she said.

This year the QMEA is celebrating 20 years of inspiring students to follow a trades or science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) study pathway with a focus on the many rewarding career opportunities in the resources sector.