Showcasing student and industry partnerships in North Queensland

Industry partnerships are critical to showcasing the plethora of opportunities available in manufacturing to high school students - our future workforce. This is yet another excellent example of the great outcomes that can come from these partnerships.

The P-Tech pathway for advanced manufacturing was developed by Tec-NQ, a Gateway to Industry School for Advanced Manufacturing. This was in partnership with Ergon Energy, Wilmar Sugar, Modern Projects Solutions, Growcom, Biomedical Technology Solutions and James Cook University. Through the North Queensland P-Tech Partnership, senior school Tec-NQ is supported by local employers in energy, structural engineering, food manufacturing and biomedical technology industries.

Now into its second year, the partnership has established an annual industry showcase for students to learn more about the integration of advanced manufacturing technologies within local industry and mentor students who are interested in technological career pathways.

The showcase was established to teach students about local career opportunities whilst being mentored through practical activities showcasing technology and critical thinking skills.

“Our industry partners are so important to the success of this program.  Everyone does what they can to support.  Ergon Energy and Biomedical Technology Solutions routinely support work experience for students.  Rockfield Technologies, Wilmar Sugar and Modern Project Solutions have helped drive our curriculum development.  The whole team is supporting mock interviews for our graduating Year 12 students in June to prepare them for 2021 apprentice intakes.  Their mentorship has really helped these students grow their employability and skills,” says Tec-NQ’s Strategic Projects Manager, Jennifer Trybula.

Showcases are hosted at Tec-NQ and students spend part of the day with each employer.  Practical activities included networking a physiological monitoring system for a hospital room, assembling parts from a schematic, applying a pressure sensor and analysing the data outputs and understanding the industrial power distribution and programming that automates railway lights.