Gold Coast Schools Embark on the Third Year of the Advanced Manufacturing Future Skills School Program

Gold Coast schools recently came together at the Griffith University Gold Coast Campus for professional development delivered as part of the Gold Coast Advanced Manufacturing Future Skills School Program delivered by Makers Empire in collaboration with the Department of Regional Development Manufacturing and Water. This program supports skills development in the Queensland Advanced Manufacturing industry, and aligns and supports the strategic objectives of the:

Queensland Advanced Manufacturing 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan;
The Skills Implementation Plan for Advanced Manufacturing;
A Strategy for STEM in Queensland state schools;
The National Stem School Education Strategy; and
Australian Curriculum: Design and Technology and Australian Curriculum: Science.

Participating schools are The Southport School, Josiah College, St Vincent’s Primary School, Guardian Angels Primary School, Hillcrest Christian College, Worongary State School, Tamborine Mountain State High School, Keebra Park State High School, Helensvale State High School, Silkwood School Southport State High School, Marymount College, Beenleigh State High School, Carmel College, Trinity Lutheran College, Coombabah State High School, Benowa State High School, Tamborine Mountain College, Flagstone State Community College, St Andrews Lutheran College, New Queensland Academy for Health Sciences, Foxwell State Secondary College, Australian Industry Trade College, Elanora State High School, St Andrews Lutheran College, and The Busy School.

The professional development included a presentation about Advanced Manufacturing on the Gold Coast by Jody Mcaully, Skills Development and Training Officer South East Region and Regional Economic Development and Manufacturing at the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water. Makers Empire’s learning team delivered sessions on Design Thinking and using Makers Empire, and a session on 3D printing and 3D printers.

There was also an industry panel discussion with the following speakers: Larissa McDermont, School Liaison/Training Coordinator, PWR- Advanced Cooling Technology; Greg Williams, General Manager, Neumann Contractors; Andrea Welsh, Director, Weltrade Packaging; and Justin Leigh-Smith, Apprentice Trainer, Riviera.

Afterwards, the teachers had the opportunity to visit the Advanced Design and Prototyping Technologies Institute (ADaPT) at Griffith Uni. The tour was led by Antonio Grimm, Operations Manager at the ADaPT.

The teachers then went on an industry tour of AMEC Plastics. The tour was led by Dan Teasdale, Technical Manager at AMEC Plastics.

Teachers will work with students on their projects inspired by real-life problems in the advanced manufacturing industry and then the project will culminate with a student-led showcase where students present their solutions to industry judges.