The Surat Basin's future as a world class energy producer has been bolstered by a partnership between Queensland's leading coal seam companies, Energy Skills Australia and the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).
In 2010, seven Surat Basin high schools will offer education and training options for students interested in resource sector careers, taking the number of QMEA schools across Queensland to 25.
QMEA is a partnership between peak industry body the Queensland Resources Council, the Queensland Department of Education and Training, and training and education providers.
With the support of Energy Skills Queensland and coal seam gas companies Origin Energy, QGC and Santos, QMEA will provide more than 4,350 state high school students at Roma, Chinchilla, Dalby, Toowoomba, Oakey and Pittsworth and the independent Downlands College at Toowoomba with an opportunity to focus their education on the rapidly expanding coal seam gas industry.
QMEA Chairman and Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council, Michael Roche, said today the commitment of the state's leading coal seam gas companies to career opportunities for thousands of young people across the region represented a significant turnaround in fortunes.
"For too long, the Surat Basin has been losing talented young people to employment and career opportunities outside the region," Roche said.
"Through the QMEA, local high school students will now have the information, incentive and encouragement they need to forge rewarding careers in a world class local industry.
"There are literally thousands of new careers available in the upstream coal seam gas industry and associated development of export liquefied natural gas facilities near Gladstone.
"Every part of the production line from well-head to LNG tanker demands highly skilled people and there is no better fit for the future than home-grown talent and expertise."
QMEA Director Roger Atkins said he was confident that other regional high schools would join the academy in coming months, reflecting the Surat Basin's bright future.
"Our initial strategy for Surat Basin QMEA schools is to focus on developing pathways for student progress access to operator, trade, para-professional and professional career streams," Atkins said.
"We are very excited about the QMEA's expansion into the Surat Basin, just as the school communities are in recognising the opportunities on offer.
"We are indebted to our three coal seam gas company sponsors ˆ Origin Energy, QGC and Santos - for their significant vote of confidence in the region," he said.
QGC Managing Director Catherine Tanna said the industry partnership with QMEA reflected QGC's commitment to ensuring neighbouring communities benefited from the company's presence on an enduring basis.
"We need a skilled workforce for both our existing coal seam gas business and planned expansion into LNG export and it is our preference to hire locally wherever possible. This partnership provides an introduction to the nature of our business so students can make a more informed decision about their future," she said.
QGC hopes many of these students will join what is rapidly developing as a substantial and exciting new industry for Queensland.
Paul Zealand, Origin's Executive General Manager Upstream Oil & Gas said he was proud of the work Origin had done with QMEA and Energy Skills Queensland identifying and developing skills to support the creation of long-terms jobs in the coal seam gas to liquefied natural gas industry.
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