It’s shaping up to be a very busy year for the program with over 1300 students and over 23 schools registered. 

Our aim is to expand the program regionally, increasing participation by at least one school per year. We are pleased to once again exceed these expectations in 2022, with an additional 2 Regional Schools involved in the program.

We also continue to liaise with schools in the Kimberley region, to better understand their education and training requirements. St Marys College and Broome SHS will participate in the 2022 program in varying capacities.

Throughout the four mentor visits to the schools, students learn about the impact the energy industry has on society, as well as how the industry is transitioning for a greener future. These visits include presentations and interactive activities, where students have the opportunity to speak with mentors who can share their own experiences and assist with career pathway opportunities.

With term one coming to a close, some schools managed to complete their first visits, despite the copious disruptions from COVID. However, the majority of schools are looking to present visits one and two during term two.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES
In 2022 we will continue to extend our reach and will invite an additional regional school to take part in the Next Generation Program.

Our program mentors will visit regional schools to facilitate information sessions on career pathways and share their experience working in the industry. This will give us the opportunity to engage with a wider audience and give a greater number of schools across WA exposure to the energy industry. There have been many changes made to the 2022 program and we hope to receive feedback from students, teachers and mentors as the year progresses. The program content will be updated to progress with the ever-changing environment and we aim to include more interactive and creative thinking activities.

SITE VISITS AND EXCURSIONS
Site visits to local projects and excursions to local workplaces are a developing inclusion in the Next Generation Schools Program.

Introduced to the program in 2021 the site visits and excursions will continue to be offered to both regional and metro schools. Our program partners, Baker Hughes, Oceaneering and ERGT provide guided tours of their facilities in Perth. This includes activities such as confined space escape, observing fire safety training,
and robotics and ROV. 

This is a great opportunity for the students giving them insight into what the facilities are like in real life, while also showcasing the diversity of careers available. Our regional schools are fortunate to visit both operational and abandoned project sites, giving students an opportunity to see the industry work within their own backyard, and how this positively impacts their community.

PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES & DEVELOPMENTS

Spotlight on the program in recent months heightened through social media, event presentations and expo days has allowed us to increase our exposure to the industry, and to schools and external stakeholders.

We are pleased to partner with Woodside to implement their Energy Transition game into the NextGen program. The game aims to take students on a journey from now until 2050. 

The intent of the game is to demonstrate the variables of a changing energy mix into the future with the increasing demand of power for development but a need to lower emissions. The game demonstrates the complexities of providing energy to the world and the difficulties in transitioning to a low carbon energy market.

To support Broome SHS with their online learning activities, we are creating “behind the scenes” video promotions that look into local businesses and career pathways that are possible within the local community.

This is a great initiative and will be made available to all schools in the program.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
This program would not be possible without the support of our mentors and sponsors. This year, the Next Generation Schools program was fortunate enough to have significant
support from a group of excellent industry representatives who provided mentorship and drive for the program.

Our mentors provide their time on a voluntary basis, giving students the opportunity to hear firsthand from industry professionals who share their skills and experiences with the students. This is one of the program highlights. 

The future is in our hands, and the Next Generation Committee look forward to building and developing the program with your support.

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