About 50 students will attend the Toolkit For School Kids workshop, one of two being held today by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy – an industry-education partnership between Queensland Resources Council and the Queensland government – in Gladstone.

The workshop lets Year 10 students discuss life in the sector with tradespeople and apprentices. High-achieving year 10-students interested in pursuing careers in engineering or science will complete a series of challenges and hands-on activities related to these professions in the resources sector, while being mentored by industry professionals.

QMEA director Katrina Jones said the workshops combined all of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines into a range of hands-on activities for students that provided real life learning applications.

“Such experiences are an added bonus for teachers and can be used to teach a range of concepts and provide assistance in the implementation of the national science curriculum,” she said.

“Programs such as these are essential to ensuring students make informed career decisions, while encouraging young people to consider the range of career opportunities available in the resources sector for both professional and skilled tradespeople.”

The high schools involved include Tannum Sands, Gladstone, Toolooa and Chanel College with the activities held at Central Queensland University.

The QMEA is a “virtual academy” of 34 Queensland schools that expose students to careers in the resources sector and sets out pathways into it.