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Ayr and Home Hill Year 10 students will discover what it takes to take on a trade career when they take part in a Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) Tradie for a Day workshop today.

QMEA is the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

Trades team members from event sponsor Evolution Mining Mount Carlton will take students through their paces in the workshop.

“Resources sector related trades feature prominently in the latest Australian Government Skills Priority List,” said QRC Director Education and Skills Katrina-Lee Jones.

“Evolution’s qualified local tradespeople will share their on-the-job experiences with the students to encouage them to consider highly-skilled and technological fields such as mining, construction and others,” she said.

“As well as enabling students to remain in their home communities, trades are sustainable careers, which support families and communities, and can enable students to contribute to more than just their own learning, but support others around them too,” said Evolution Mining’s Mark Brown – Health, Safety and Community Manager.

“Any young Burdekin student who wants a sustainable, rewarding career can find it through a trade role,” said Mr Brown.

“There’s no shortage of opportunities once they complete their training, with more than 5,000 trades and trades assistant positions currently advertised in Queensland on Seek.”

Ayr State High School Principal Craig Whittred said these events can be a powerful aid to learning by relating their classroom work to the world outside.

“We also welcome the attendance by Home Hill SHS students as it’s a great opportunity for all the students to meet new people and hone their networking skills.”

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.