CME’s Asta Morton and Sharon Upston attended the South West Advanced Manufacturing Robotics Education Forum at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on October 22, hosted by the South West Development Commission.
The forum was designed to inform thinking about local education models and pathways in industry 4.0 technologies and was attended by more than 100 representatives from local schools, TAFE, universities, government and industry. Participants heard from leading experts about advancements in technology and the future direction in robotics, and its potential to support new industries and job opportunities for local people.
Asta was invited to present on CME’s Digital Technologies Program. Created in partnership with members of the Pilbara Collaboration, the program has developed a range of resources challenges for primary school students in Years 5 and 6.
The success of a pilot program in the Pilbara has led to an expansion of the project in the region, with the development of content for all students from pre-primary to Year 10. CME hopes to see the program extend to schools in the South West region very soon.
Dr Mark Micire, Head of Robotics at Woodside also presented at the forum, together with his robot “Spot”. Woodside is one of the Pilbara Collaboration’s founding members.
Water Security Group
The Water Security group met in Bunbury on October 12 to continue to explore potential long-term solutions to drought-proof mining and processing operations in the South West. At the request of the members, representatives from Infrastructure WA, Water Corporation and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation also attended the workshop to discuss potential technologies and interconnected solutions.
The group will meet again in January 2022.
Year 9 Career Taster workshop held in Bunbury
CME was invited by the Department of Training and Workforce Development and Department of Education to a Career Taster workshop at the South Regional TAFE on October 13 to gather ideas on how to encourage Year 9 students to be “career curious”.
The purpose of the State Government-funded program is to showcase career pathways and future job opportunities in an engaging and meaningful way to inspire students to consider future study options, including making informed decisions on their subject selections for Year 11 and 12. The program is expected to commence from term one next year and runs for four years.
More than 50 local representatives came together to brainstorm ideas for a framework of activities and workplace experiences. Some of the ideas generated by the group included a website or database that lists career taster opportunities, and resources that can be accessed by students, teachers and parents, discussion about the range of industries that could be included and possible solutions to remove barriers to participation.
Contact: Sharon Upston, Manager South West
Email: s.upston@cmewa.com
