Housing and childcare services are key issues to target to build community sustainability, according to members of the 2024 Smart Transformation Youth Advisory Council.

The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) met in Dysart, with the support of BMA, to assess local issues and provide a youth voice into Smart Transformation’s work to help future proof Dysart and Moranbah.

Eight students from Dysart State High School joined eight colleagues from Moranbah State High School at the first of four meetings for the year, learning about technological change and future career options.

“The purpose of the Youth Advisory Council is to help you get a sense of the opportunities moving forward and how to access them,” Smart Transformation Facilitator Mitch Innes told the group.

“The whole idea of it is for you to get a better sense of what you could do and what options you might have that you haven’t thought of before.

“At the same time, we want to know what you know, what you think, to feed into the work underway to support our towns’ futures.”

The impacts and opportunities of the Fifth Industrial Revolution were key topics of discussions particularly related to the future of work and the skills and training required.

“Rather than having a connection between humans and technological change like the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Fifth Industrial Revolution will move forward to true collaboration – you will employ technology in your future job opportunities that will assist you to improve your individual performance,” Mitch said.

“These will include AI, robotics and biotech, all of which will drive individual outcomes and results.”

BMA Broadmeadow General Manager Peter Baker spoke to the YAC members about the future of the coal industry, particularly the ongoing need for metallurgical coal in the development of renewable energy projects.

“Unlike a lot of coals, the product we have here in the Bowen Basin is the best in the world, and it’s going to be involved in the manufacture of steel for decades to come.”

It was a message which resonated with the YAC members.

“The students have all been fully engaged in what the mining industry is, they’ve been fully engaged in what the mining industry has to offer, and a lot of them are looking at careers in the future of mining,” Peter said.

Moranbah State High Year 10 student Ethan Clothier said he got a great deal out of the meeting.

“It’s pretty interesting seeing new technology being introduced.”