We’re pleased to have approximately 1,700 students from across 29 schools participating in the program in 2024. Many of our schools are expanding the number of classes participating, as they see the program as a valuable inclusion for students regardless of their academic capacities and interests.
We have now expanded the program to 12 regional schools taking the program to Exmouth, Karratha, Dongara, Jurien Bay, Busselton, Geraldton, Georgiana Molloy Anglican School, Morawa, Northam and Carnamah.
We are still seeking mentors to assist with the session visits in regional areas. If you're able to assist, please contact Michelle today.
Connecting the 'Next Generation' to careers in the energy industry
Purpose:
To introduce the "Next Generation" to the energy industry in a fun, interactive and educational environment. We aim to educate students about the energy industry and the important role energy plays in our society, as we provide information on the diversity of careers options available.
Goals:
By matching each school with an industry mentor, students get first-hand access to information from someone working directly in the industry. This program provides an opportunity to inspire the next generation and promote the energy industry to our future workforce.
Target Audience:
Year's 8 to 10 High School Students
The Program
What's involved...
Each school is assigned a Lead Mentor who will work with their assigned school teacher to present the Next Generation Schools Program. This is presented over four to five visits and will conclude with the Student Expo Day. The mentor will work with the teacher to schedule each school visit, offering flexibility for those involved. The four mentor visits will cover the following topics:
1. Provides students with an introduction to the energy industry and the impact it has on society, plus the way in which it affects our day-to-day lives.
2. Concentrates on renewable energy developments, the future mix of energy, how all the different energy sources work and what the benefits are of each source.
3. focuses on the project lifecycle and the diverse range of careers required to help complete a project, highlighting the array of opportunities available within each tier of the project cycle.
4. Takes you on a journey of careers. We invite 3 to 4 mentors from various backgrounds to share their career journey in the energy industry so far. Mentors rotate around the groups to provide a ‘speed networking style’ show and tell of their careers.
There is also an option of a fifth session: a game provided by Woodside Energy which aims to take students on a journey from now until 2050. The intent of the game is to demonstrate the complexities of providing energy to the world and the difficulties in transitioning to a low carbon energy market.
We are always refining the program to be flexible to suit each school’s individual needs. The Next Generation Program Committee has worked closely with participating teachers to continue to develop the content; keeping it current, engaging and adding value to the students’ education by providing information on career pathways that may not be already easily accessible to them.
Get Involved
Help inspire the "next generation" and positively promote the energy industry to our future workforce.
The program values the role teachers and energy professionals play in educating young people about the importance of energy in our society.
- Give back to the community and positively promote the industry you work in;
- Engage directly with students to inspire their career choices;
- Inspire the next generation and contribute to the industry's need for ongoing education;
- Support an industry education program that has been delivered for over 30 years.
There are many ways to be involved such as sponsorship, mentoring or supporting the Student Expo day by volunteering on the day and providing interactive displays.
Industry Mentors
Mentoring is a rewarding experience and an opportunity to give back to the community and the industry you work in and enhance your personal development.
If you are an energetic, positive role model in the industry and value the process of sharing your knowledge to the "next generation" then this could be an opportunity for you to get connected.
There are various capacities to our mentoring roles; Lead Mentors, Panel Mentors or Guest Speakers.
View mentor brochure for more.
*Please note a Working with Children Check is required to participate. These will need to be organised prior to your visits, as you will need it for entry to school premises. Application forms can be found at most Australia Post shops, or ECWA can supply a copy on request, contact Michelle today. Find out more about WWCC here.
Student Expo Day
The program culminates in the Student Expo Day, held at Edith Cowan University. This is a great day out on campus, giving students the chance to experience uni life and also learn about the opportunities available to them when they finish high school.
We work with industry supporters who provide industry-related activities and games for students to complete. Students rotate between the exhibitions and generate points through industry-related activities. The group that accumulates the most points throughout the day wins.
The Student Expo Day is open to all students to attend. Students are required to form groups of 5-6 and work as a team to get points.
We are always on the lookout for program supporters who can assist with interactive displays, allowing students to learn about the different jobs and activities within the industry. If you would like to get involved, please contact us today.
Invest in the Future...
This is a community engagement initiative that has been facilitated by the Energy Club WA since 1991.
Each year the program is growing and the Next Generation committee has worked closely with teachers and mentors to continue to develop the program, keeping it current, interesting and adding value to the student's education by providing information on career pathways that may not be easily accessible to them.
This program relies on the participation from industry mentors and organisation sponsorship to ensure we can continue to inspire the "next generation".
We work with the industry’s leading organisations to deliver the Next Generation Program, providing students with up to date information on some of Australia's biggest energy projects. We'd like to thank our program sponsors, for allowing us to develop the program and educate students across WA.
If you would like to support the program that supports our industry and the next generation, please contact us today.
Thank you to our 2024 program sponsors...
