5 October, 2010
Brisbane – Schools in the Surat basin will benefit from a $720,000 contribution by Xstrata Coal made possible through a Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) partnership launched today.
The partnership will benefit the school communities from Miles State High School and Wandoan and Taroom State Schools, who were present at Parliament House for the launch by the Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade the Hon. Stephen Robertson MP.
The Xstrata Coal Wandoan donation will allow the three QMEA schools to receive additional school equipment, curriculum enrichment and a position for a school-industry liaison. Xstrata Coal Wandoan Project
Executive General Manager Steve Bridger said that funding would allow the schools to invest in learning opportunities for their students.
“The partnership will allow the schools to provide new and exciting curriculum for students, provide support for literacy and numeracy programs and create closer relationships between school and industry,” Mr Bridger said.
“Through the funding, we are hoping to give young people in the Surat Basin the skills they need to build strong, thriving communities that can make the most of the resources industries that are entering their region. “It will be these young people who will show us that resources and agricultural industries can co-exist and thrive,” he said.
Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Michael Roche said the industry partnership was another important step to ensure young people were aware of the career opportunities available to them in the
resources sector.
”The resources sector in Queensland is a $50 billion-a-year industry, and with a looming skills shortage, it is paramount that we have programs in place to ensure resource sector career options are made known,” Mr Roche said.
QMEA Director, Rodger Atkins said the three new QMEA schools would benefit immensely from Xstrata Coal’s donation and involvement.
“The expansion of the QMEA to Surat Basin schools means students will be able to have access to close industry relationships, to ensure resources sector careers and pathways are made obvious for students
making career decisions,” he said.
Xstrata Coal’s $720,000 donation to the Wandoan QMEA Partnership is part of the company’s Corporate Social Involvement (CSI) program, which is making a real difference to the lives of others across both
Queensland and New South Wales.
Xstrata Coal’s CSI partners, groups like CityCare and Lifeline, provide the ideas, foundations and support networks necessary to affect positive change across the areas of health, education, community, environment and the arts. In 2010 the company committed more than $12 million to assist over 50 CSI partners achieve their goals.
About the Xstrata Coal Wandoan QMEA Partnership
The Xstrata Coal Wandoan QMEA Partnership will improve the pathways from senior school to work in industry and help attract and retain dedicated, suitably qualified teaching staff. It will also provide funding, equipment, curriculum enrichment and school-industry liaison, specifically to:
○ Extend the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy to Wandoan State School, Taroom State School and Miles State High School
○ Support the establishment of a Trade Training Centre in Miles with regional hubs at Wandoan and Taroom State Schools, including industry placement and teacher training
○ Begin a program for school-based or full-time apprenticeships or traineeships with Xstrata Coal and district employers.
In addition, Xstrata Coal will direct funding and other resources through Education Queensland to:
○ Support the establishment of a Science Centre at Wandoan State School
○ Employ teacher aides at the Wandoan State School to deliver literacy and numeracy programs
○ Establish a bursary fund at Wandoan State School for equipment, transport and tuition that supports student’s studies and extra-curricula activities.
○ Fund industry placement and teacher training for Trade Training Centre Staff
○ Provide incentive grants for Wandoan district employers to hire apprentices.
