The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed a major boost to resources sector education following the Queensland government’s announcement of a $2 million investment to expand the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).
The announcement was made in Mackay by Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, Ros Bates, and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dale Last.
The new funding will enable the QMEA to establish a regional hub in Mackay, with further hubs planned for Rockhampton in 2026 and Townsville in 2027.
This expansion will add 50 more schools to the QMEA’s state-wide network.
The QMEA, which has provided science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and trade workshops and mentoring programs to students for 20 years, is set to play a pivotal role in developing the next generation of the resources workforce.
QRC Chief Executive Officer, Janette Hewson, highlighted the significance of the funding for the sector’s future, stating: “The resources sector is the backbone of Queensland employing thousands of Queenslanders and contributing more than $120 billion into our economy in the last financial year.
“In the Mackay region alone there are nearly 20,000 people employed by the resources sector and it indirectly supports a further 75,000 jobs, so it makes sense to have a regional hub in this resources heartland,” she said.
The additional funding is expected to help address one of the sector’s most pressing challenges — attracting and retaining skilled workers.
“One of our biggest challenges is attracting and retaining a skilled workforce which is critical for the industry as a whole and the regional communities in which they operate,” Hewson said.
She also noted the sector’s ongoing growth and commitment to sustainability, stating: “The resources sector is a dynamic powerhouse which is growing to meet production demands and continue our sustainability and decarbonisation improvements.”
“We need to attract the next generation of tradespeople, technicians and professionals to be a part of our industry so we will continue to thrive.”
The QMEA is recognised as a highly successful, industry-led education partnership, with active involvement from mining and energy companies in its school workshops and camps.
“We know that students from QMEA schools are more likely to follow a study pathway into engineering and related technologies,” Hewson said.
“They are also more likely to enter apprenticeships or traineeships in the mining industry compared to students in other schools.
“This funding will continue the success of the QMEA across regional Queensland and create the next generation of employees for the resources sector.”
With the planned expansion, the QMEA is set to further strengthen Queensland’s resources sector by inspiring and equipping students across the state to pursue rewarding careers in mining, energy, and related fields.
