Click here for Oresome Minds Camp photos.

Click here for Oresome Trades Camp photos.

The school holidays are often a time for rest and relaxation, but around 35 enthusiastic Year 11 and 12 students from all over Queensland will get a head start on their career journey by attending one of two camps in Mount Isa this week (3 – 8 July).

This “awesome” opportunity is being made possible through the support of Glencore Queensland Metals and Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

The Oresome Minds Camp and the Oresome Trades Camp will have participating students from QMEA schools in Brisbane, Central and North Queensland, including a strong cohort from the local Mount Isa schools; Spinifex State College and Good Shepherd Catholic College.

QRC Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, Ms Katrina-Lee Jones said these two school camps are among the most anticipated and sought-after programs run by the QMEA each year and give ambitious young men and women an opportunity to experience life in a dynamic, innovative and diverse industry.

“The Oresome Minds and Oresome Trade camps are targeted at students in the latter senior school years who are already interested in pursuing an education or training pathway into the resources sector,” Ms Jones said.

“By working alongside industry professionals over a six-day period, the activities allow students to deepen their understanding about the opportunities that lie ahead in highly sought-after technical disciplines.

“Students with a passion to pursue studies in science or engineering fields are participating in the Oresome Minds Camp, which involves four groups of four students visiting the Glencore Mount Isa Mines complex and then teaming up to work on a resource-related project assigned by Glencore Queensland Metals. This year, new projects focusing on geology and decarbonisation will be included.

“At the end of the six-day camp, the students will display their critical thinking, active learning, complex problem-solving, and public speaking skills as they present their project findings to a panel of representatives from Glencore Queensland Metals’ management team,” Ms Jones said.

Glencore Zinc Assets Australia General Manager Human Resources, Clint Milner said the company is proud to be hosting the Oresome Minds Camp on-site.

He said experienced tradespeople and apprentices will also attend a six-day Oresome Trades Camp to work alongside 18 students from four schools in the Mount Isa and Townsville regions.

“The Oresome Trades Camp connects students with industry experts as they complete a challenge that incorporates a variety of trade skills such as fitting and fabrication as well as mechanical,” Mr Milner said.

“Students will work in teams alongside mentors to modify a pushbike by attaching a petrol engine kit, giving them the opportunity to safely trial some trade-based roles while developing a range of employability skills like creativity, time management, and adaptability.

“In addition to supporting youth and regional skills development in the communities in which we operate, we hope these camps will encourage students to consider a rewarding career in the resources sector, especially with us at Glencore Queensland Metals,” Mr Milner said.

Spinifex State College Principal, Mr Chris Pocock said the camps are an invaluable learning experience for students looking to grow their professional and personal skills in an engaging and memorable way.

“Throughout the Oresome Minds and Oresome Trades camps, students are being faced with a range of challenges with real-world applications that require design-thinking and problem-solving,” Mr Pocock said.

“This is an opportunity to show students that once they leave school, they can apply skills they’ve picked up this week from the QMEA and Glencore Queensland Metals, giving them the confidence to approach and solve realistic challenges using critical analysis, teamwork, and communication.”

As Australia’s largest and most successful industry-led education and schools training initiative, the QMEA broadens 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.