Hands-on learning at Yallarm STEM camp

In May, the fourth annual Yallarm STEM Camp took place, bringing together 18 students from five local Gladstone high schools to engage in activities and foster enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).  

The interactive learning experience, made possible through a collaboration between Monadelphous and Central Queensland University, incorporates both a deep appreciation for working on Country and hands-on learning. The four-day camp received strong support and involvement from our dedicated East Coast team. 

The first day began with a Welcome to Country from Uncle Mick Eggmolesse, a proud Byelle elder, who set the tone of the camp. Uncle Mick spoke about strong culture and opportunity for young people and also unpacked the word ‘Yallarm’ which is Gladstone’s Gooreng Gooreng name, meaning ‘place of shells’.  

Manager – Gladstone Operations, Cameron Hausler; Site Manager, Seamus O’Connor; and HSE Coordinator, Kellie Davidson attended the first day, representing Monadelphous. 

“We participated in a yarning circle with the students, which was a great way to introduce ourselves and the company. We all come from different career backgrounds, so we had the opportunity to share how we got there and where we come from,” Cameron said.  

Cameron, along with Project Engineer, William Paulson, also attended the third day and presented to the students as part of the career discussion.  

A highlight of the camp was a tour of the local Monadelphous workshop, which opened students’ eyes to the array of opportunities available in their backyard.  

Seamus O’Connor, who attended the closing event with General Manager, Duane Oxford, said it was a great opportunity to get the kids thinking about a future in STEM and the diverse range of career options that we offer.  

“I think our involvement means they’ll hopefully be looking at us as a potential employer when they are seeking to complete an apprenticeship or join as a graduate,” Seamus said.  

Throughout the week, the students also had the opportunity to explore the STEM Central facility at CQU, where they were introduced to drones, robotics and augmented reality. They also delved into engineering design by creating and testing rafts for navigation on the Boyne River. 

Thank you to our dedicated and inspiring employees involved – it is great to be able to support hands-on STEM learning in our local community.