QRC welcomes commitment to future skills initiative

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed a $45 million State Government pre-election commitment to a new future skills initiative to encourage closer partnerships between high schools and industry-related job opportunities.

“The Queensland Government has already been a vital partner in our 80-strong Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) under the Gateway to Industry Schools Program and this funding will further boost the capacity of some of our partner schools to set young people onto trade and STEM career pathways,” QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said.

“QMEA schools from across the state would benefit from the promised new facilities that will support the development of skills in engineering, hospitality and the emerging hydrogen industry, and prepare students for the skills demanded by our sector,” he said.

These include:

• Dysart State High School – $900,000 for commercial standard kitchen facilities
• Chinchilla State High School and Tara State College - $4.8 million for engineering annexe and equipment to support training opportunities in local mining, gas and electrical industries
• Bowen State High School - $1.4m upgrade to aquaculture facility
• Pimlico State High School - $1.4m enhanced aquaponics infrastructure
• Gladstone State High School –  $2m for training for emerging hydrogen industry
• Roma State College - $1.5m for infrastructure for animal husbandry and agricultural studies
• Glenala State High School - $2.25m upgrade to trade training centre for four schools
• Rockhampton State High School - $2.5m for aquaculture research centre facilities
• Dalby State High School - $2.5m upgrade to rural/industrial manufacturing facilities
• Clermont State High School - $1.3m for commercial kitchen and industry- standard facilities
• Cloncurry State School - $500,000 upgrade to welding and metal work facilities
• Mackay Northern Beaches State High School – $1.2m for engineering, early childhood, arts and information/digital media/technology/business training facilities
• Thuringowa State High School - $1.2m science labs refurbishment.

Mr Macfarlane said QRC members already invest more than $1 million each year in the QMEA to ensure resources companies have the skilled people they need to operate safely and successfully.

He said investing in training for young people to encourage them to work in the resources sector was more important than ever, because of the vital role the mining and gas industries were playing to support Queensland’s economic recovery from COVID-19.

“The QRC has also welcomed the state government’s commitment to a Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan to steer future growth in our sector,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“This plan includes extra support for STEM skills and a commitment to employ more industrial design and technology teachers, which will be of critical importance to the success of the government’s future skills initiative,” he said.

www.qrc.org.au

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