Female school students are being encouraged to consider a future career in the energy and mining industries.

A forum today aimed to spark the students’ interest in the sector which is currently facing a skills shortage.

Zoe Noakes reports.

TRANSCRIPT

It was fitting that the event was held here at the Brisbane Powerhouse because today’s forum was all about energy, electricity, and engineers.

Almost 50 students from four different high schools came together to talk about the jobs that women don’t traditionally choose.

The event put on by the Queensland Academy of Mining and Energy featured successful women who spoke about their careers and the benefits of working in the resource industry.

Joann Kirby, Engineer: “Getting out to the schools and talking to the girls and letting them realise that doing engineering and getting into the resource sector, as we’ve been talking about this morning, isn’t just about wearing high-vis and driving big trucks.”

With research showing many Queensland girls aren’t choosing to study science at school, the forum will hopefully showcase careers they wouldn’t have considered.

One student didn’t take much convincing she already has plans to pursue geology and earth science.

Alannah Quinn, Year 11 Student: “That’s why I’m here, because I’m really interested in that kind of thing. I’ve been reading up on it myself.”

Organisers say explaining the different career opportunities is one way of tackling the gender-imbalance in the industry.

Tracey Lawson, Qld Minerals & Energy Academy: “It’s really important for us to look at the skills shortages and one way of addressing the skills shortage in the resource sector is to introduce females into non-traditional roles.”

The 4-Girls-2 forum is travelling around the state throughout this month.

Zoe Noakes, QUT News.