QMI Ignites Indigenous Students’ Interest In Manufacturing
In the spirit of learning beyond the classroom, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Kelvin Grove State College and St Patrick's College Shorncliffe, two of our Advanced Manufacturing Gateway to Industry schools, participated in a one-day pilot ‘Creative Growers’ program. This created an opportunity to discover innovative pathways, with cultural connections, to sustainable manufacturing, alongside industry experts.
What’s vertical farming and what benefits could it bring to our communities? What’s it like to study manufacturing and how do I get into the industry? These are some of the questions students are eager to explore further. In response to growing calls for the advancement of STEAM education - and in keeping with our exhortation ‘to ensure the future growth and prosperity of manufacturing in Queensland - Queensland Manufacturing Institute (QMI) teamed up with Cre8tive Nations to deliver this bespoke program.
Curiosity among students has grown in pace with the rapid development of manufacturing technologies including industrial sustainability. Held in October 2022, the program featured a lively discussion led by Christopher Fullon, founder of Australian Urban Growers, an organisation specialising in urban farming solutions. He used the vertical farm at Kelvin Grove State College as an example to help students understand the partnership between the school and the manufacturing industry, and offered insights into the design and construction of the farm and its ecosystem.
A discussion centred on community engagement, Christopher made reference to the potential benefits of utilising vertical farming in our communities.
“Vertical farming could be a suitable solution for overpopulated urban areas and rural areas where resources are constrained,” one excited student suggested after the discussion.
The build-up to this started with a Welcome to Country delivered by Traditional Owners, and an introduction to how traditional manufacturing instruments and tools were made through a historical lens, the First Nations’ procurement process in the past, and the craftsmanship that are still being honoured today. The activity galvanised students’ interest to appreciate and learn more about the land and the agricultural values, their uses and the significance of native plants.
Students continued their Creative Growers journey with a visit to the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) where they were introduced to QUT’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student support centre, the Oodgeroo Unit. Current QUT First Nations students also joined and shared their career aspirations in manufacturing.
As the final stop of the Creative Growers 1-day program, Langford Metals - Brisbane’s longest-established precision sheet metal fabricators with a strong emphasis on an inclusive and safe work environment - became a makeshift classroom for participants. It was a unique opportunity to talk with industry experts at the very frontiers of the manufacturing world. Students were delighted to learn of the diverse career options and pathways into sustainability manufacturing, as well as how to get into the industry.
In addition to its long history, Langford Metals places a strong emphasis on inclusive workplace culture, with initiatives including mentoring, and cultural and continuous improvement programs to create a safe work environment for all employees including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Creative Growers was organised by QMI, in partnership with Cre8tive Nations, an organisation that specialises in cultural knowledge, education and training.
QMI is the host of the Advanced Manufacturing Gateway to Industry Schools, an initiative that encourages sustainable partnerships between industry, government and the community.
