Millmerran students tap into water sustainability

In a first for the Millmerran region, more than 30 students have taken part in the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA)’s Water: Yours, Ours, Mine workshop thanks to Millmerran Power.

The initiative, designed for year 7 students, is aligned with the geography and science curricula to set students thinking about the importance of water treatment and reuse in the sustainability of water supply.

“The event aims to highlight how water can be treated and reused within the resources sector,” said QRC’s Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, Katrina-Lee Jones.

“Students will carry out hands-on experiments to examine different water treatment methods and will use digital data logging equipment to capture real-time water quality data,” she said.

“We are looking forward to revealing the importance of water treatment and reuse as a way of ensuring water security, as well as showing the enormous effort the resources sector puts in to minimise water use and wastage,” said Millmerran Power’s Plant Manager, Chris Seydel.

Principal of Millmerran State School Robert Michel says the interaction with professionals working in the resource sector would also help guide the students to select appropriate subjects in the coming years to enable a STEM-based career.

“The students really look forward to these activities and we always see many lightbulb moments when the textbooks meet the practical application,” Robert said.

The QMEA is Australia’s largest and most successful industry-led education and skills training initiative and seeks to broaden student and teacher knowledge of VET and STEM career opportunities in the resources sector.

The academy is largely funded by QRC members and sponsors, and currently delivers hands-on workshops and programs to 80 Queensland schools. The QMEA has a focus on increasing female and Indigenous participation and is part of the Gateway to Industry Schools Program which is supported and funded by the Queensland Government.