Click here for trade workshop photos. 

Toolboxes took the place of textbooks for a group of Year 10 students from Blackwater State High School this week as part of a ‘Tradies for a Day’ workshop delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).  

The QMEA is the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC)and partnered with expert tradespeople and technicians from Coronado Global Resources to deliver the workshop. 

Blackwater SHS principal, Rebecca Vitale, said the workshop provided a unique opportunity for the trade-enthusiast students to discover more about employment prospects while gaining new skills.  

“Spending time with experienced tradespeople from Coronado, hearing their career stories, was incredibly valuable for the students who are keen to follow a vocational pathway through their senior years at high school,” said Ms Vitale.  

Peter Murphy, Manager – Organisational Capability at Coronado Global Resources said the benefits were mutual, with their team members keen to share their skills and give insight into their working life in the resources sector.  

“Coronado’s Curragh mine is a major operation in the Blackwater region and this workshop is a great way to showcase the exciting trade roles available and potentially spark their interest in applying for our apprenticeship program after school,” said Mr Murphy.  

QRC Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, Ms Katrina-Lee Jones said the students worked through a variety of trade challenges including creating auto-electrical circuits, a pneumatics activity and operating a virtual welder.  

“There is a high demand for tradespeople in the resources sector and we’re giving them real-life examples of the personal and professional rewards available from a career in mining,” Ms Jones said.  

“We know school leavers are keen to have a career where they can grow their skills, make a valuable contribution, have work-life balance and financial reward – the resources sector can provide this all while keeping talent in the regions,” she said.  

“I hope this Tradies for a Day workshop experience has further ignited their passion for a trades career.”  

The QMEA is a unique industry-led education initiative currently encouraging students to follow a trade or professional career pathway into the resources and energy sector. The QMEA is supported through a partnership between the QRC, industry partners and Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program.  

For more information about careers in resources visit: shapeyourfuture.com.au