Click here for STEM Big Day Out photos

Click here for Tradie for a Day workshop photos

The numbers are big and the impacts are bigger.

Over 100 students from four local high schools gathered at Sarina State High School for a full-day festival of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) yesterday. This was followed with a trades workshop for Year 10 students from two schools in the region today.

The Year 8 & 9 STEM enthusiasts completed a series of three challenges developed by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) with the assistance of industry experts from BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA).

Paula Grundy, Sarina State High School Acting Principal said it was great to host the event again this year after a successful introduction in 2023.

“As educators we know a bit of friendly competition can inspire the students and I think we certainly saw this today, as the school teams competed to complete the geology, physics and technology challenges,” said Ms Grundy.

The QMEA is the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council and Katrina-Lee Jones, QRC Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, said the STEM Big Day Out program had been designed to develop the students’ STEM skills and grow their understanding of the resources sector.

“Communication, teamwork and problem-solving will be key to solving today’s challenges – which will also be essential to their future success in the workforce,” Ms Jones said.

“The aim of the STEM Big Day Out was to give the students hands-on experience and to demonstrate how these STEM concepts apply to operations in the resources sector.”

Linda Murry, General Manager of BMA’s Hay Point Coal Terminal said BMA was proud to support an initiative which generated a better understanding of the STEM-based roles, like geologists, engineers and technicians, in the resources industry.

“We hope the students have had fun with the challenges today and discovered more about the potential careers they can have in mining,” said Linda.

Local students more interested in a trade career pathway have also been catered for this week, with a QMEA ‘Tradie for a Day’ workshop for Year 10 students from Sarina SHS and St Patrick’s College.

For more information on a resources career visit:  shapeyourfuture.com.au

Schools attending the STEM Big Day Out: Sarina State High School (host); Pioneer State High School; Mackay Northern Beaches State High School;

Mackay State High School.

Schools attending the Tradie for a Day workshop: Sarina State High School (host); St Patrick’s College.