• Click here for photos of STEM workshop at Spinifex State College
• Click here for photos of the trades workshop at Good Shepherd Catholic College.

No matter whether their preferred accessory is a toolbelt or a laptop, students with a range of skills and interests have been catered for in Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) workshops held in Mount Isa recently.

A Tradie for a Day workshop at Good Shepherd Catholic College last Thursday followed by a STEM Unearthed workshop at Spinifex State College this week have both focused on Year 10 students, giving them practical experience and the chance to discuss careers in the resources sector with sponsor Glencore Mount Isa Mines (MIM).

Simon Wilcox, Coordinator – Pathway Programs at Glencore Mount Isa Mines said there was a high demand for tradespeople and professionals in resources and the school workshops were a great opportunity to give back to the Mount Isa community which had supported their operations for so long.

“We had a team of experienced tradespeople help guide the Good Shepherd Catholic College students through a range of activities to give them a taste of electrical, mechanical and automotive trade roles,” said Mr Wilcox.

“Successful operations not only rely on quality tradesmen, but also skilled professionals and the STEM Unearthed workshop at Spinifex State College gave us another opportunity to chat with students about in-demand professional roles like engineers, metallurgists and geologists.”

Queensland Resource Council (QRC) Director for Skills, Education and Diversity, Katrina-Lee Jones, said while the workshops varied in their focus they served a common purpose – to excite and ignite a passion in Year 10 students to follow a career into the resources and energy industry.

“We know the resources sector will continue to grow in Queensland and we want to encourage these Year 10 students to follow their VET or STEM studies in senior school so they can join the hundreds of young people working in the sector when they graduate,” Ms Jones said.

The QMEA is the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council and is Australia’s most successful industry-led education initiative. It’s programs and workshops are now in 100 Queensland schools thanks to the support of QRC members, industry sponsors and the Queensland Government.