New program offers Qld tradies the chance to become classroom teachers
Friday, 2 September 2022
Click here for photo of QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane.
Click here for media grabs of QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane.
Click here for media statement from Minister for Education, The Hon Grace Grace MP.
A new program that offers $20,000 scholarships, income support and mentoring to encourage tradies to become qualified industrial, technology and design (ITD) teachers has been welcomed by the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).
Education Minister Grace Grace this week launched a new $10 million Trade to Teach Internship pilot program to incentivise up to 30 tradespeople to transfer their skills to the classroom.
QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the program will help address a critical skills shortage being experienced by resources companies in trade roles such as diesel fitting, engineering, and auto electrical by educating and encouraging young people to take up a trade.
He said the industry had identified an urgent need for more ITD teachers in consultation with school principals involved in the QRC’s Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy, which partners with 90 schools across the state to deliver trade-based skills programs.
“In response to concerns from principals, in 2019 we established a Trade to Teach working group, now chaired by Assistant Minister for Education, Brittany Lauga, and we’re very pleased this work has led to the launch of the Trade to Teach Internship pilot program.
“Placing experienced, trade-trained teachers into schools to mentor our next generation of tradespeople will create amazing and well-paid career opportunities for students with an interest in this area,” Mr Macfarlane said.
The Qld resources sector employs some of the most highly skilled tradespeople and we need more. This program will help in filling the skills pipeline by incentivising those who are looking for a career change and want to transfer their skills into the classroom to become degree-qualified teachers.
“Tradies who want to become teachers will have access to $20,000 undergraduate scholarships, income support, mentoring and classroom teaching experience to help kickstart a new career in the classroom.
“The QRC is very pleased to have worked with the government on this initiative, and to play a part in shaping Queensland’s future workforce.”
Media contact: Rachel Stewart – [email protected] or 0408 130 767
The QRC is Queensland’s peak body for coal, metal and gas explorers, producers and suppliers across the resources sector. The resources sector contributes one in every five dollars to the state economy, supports one in six Queensland jobs, supports more than 15,000 businesses and contributes to more than 1,400 community organisations – all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass.
