Queensland Hydro scholarships help build future workforce at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

The pipeline of locally grown talent equipped and trained for major infrastructure projects in the renewables sector continues to grow, with Queensland Hydro offering another two $10,000 scholarships for local engineering students at the University of the Sunshine Coast.  

Queensland Hydro Borumba Project Director, Leah McKenzie, was joined today by State Labor Member for Nicklin, Rob Skelton and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global and Engagement) Alex Elibank Murray from University of Sunshine Coast to promote applications for scholarships at UniSC for the 2024 academic year. The applications close on 30 November 2023.

They were joined by the Dean of School of Science, Technology and Engineering Professor Stuart Parsons and two UniSC students who were the successful applicants for the 2023 Queensland Hydro Scholarship - Alyssa Mantarro and Matthias Kauffman.  

Rob Skelton called the Queensland Hydro scholarships "career-changers" for local students.

"The Borumba Pumped Hydro Project is a ‘game-changer’ for the region and hopefully these scholarships are a ‘career-changer’ for the brightest and best engineering students at UniSC who this scholarship program is helping to support," Mr Skelton said.

Locals-first approach to project benefits

Ms McKenzie said the scholarships are designed to bring benefit to the region through supporting long-term workforce development, giving more locals job-ready skills now and into the future.    

"Queensland Hydro is committed to investing in the regions in which our proposed projects are located," Ms McKenzie said.     

"We are delighted to be able to support University of the Sunshine Coast engineering students like Alyssa and Matthias as well as the next wave of scholarship winners. We believe it’s an exciting and unique opportunity for them to receive financial support and some inspiration from a project which is a centrepiece of the renewable energy transformation."   

University of Sunshine Coast Vice-Chancellor Helen Bartlett echoed these thoughts, adding that it was fantastic to see students graduate with the skills needed to make an impact in renewable energy.

"We are thrilled that they are preparing for a future in engineering with sustainability in mind, and that their efforts will be supported by Queensland Hydro, which has a fantastic ethos of nurturing the workforce talent of tomorrow.   

"Sustainable development is an enormous focus at UniSC, where we have reduced our energy use by 40 percent with a solar-powered ‘water battery’ and implemented ways to minimise water use on campus, which has contributed to our recognition as third in the world for Clean Water and Sanitation in the 2023 Times Higher Education Rankings." 

The Queensland Hydro-UniSC partnership is also delivering four equity bursaries each year, valued at $2,500 per student. The bursaries support engineering students with a demonstrated financial need at the Sippy Downs campus of UniSC.

Scholarship provides a pathway to a career in renewables

Born on the Sunshine Coast, civil engineering student Alyssa Mantarro says the scholarship allowed her to focus on her studies this year. 

"The Queensland Hydro Scholarship means that I have been able to live up to the high standards which I set for myself in my studies - and that focus and support has helped me to have a GPA of 6 so far this year," Ms Mantarro said. 

"I’m passionate about using my degree, once I graduate, to pursue an engineering career in the renewables sector."  

Second-year mechanical engineering student Mattias Kauffman is also excited about the career potential of the renewables energy sector, pointing out the opportunities for locals to be involved is a highlight.  

"The renewables energy sector is something I find truly fascinating and am very interested in pursuing, so it’s been quite an honour to receive this scholarship from Queensland Hydro. It would be a dream of mine to work on one of the pumped hydro projects when I graduate," Mr Kauffman said.  

"I’m also excited to know that there will be more locals following behind me with this STEM scholarships program and that it will provide current and future students with the pathway to becoming engineers or local students wanting to work in construction roles whether it’s on pumped hydro or other renewable energy projects in the region." 

Applications now open

The merit-based Queensland Hydro Scholarship will help support and shape the workforce of the future for Queensland Hydro’s two pumped hydro projects (at Lake Borumba outside Imbil and a proposed project at Pioneer-Burdekin outside Mackay). Second-year engineering students studying full-time who have a demonstrated financial need are eligible to apply, with priority also given to those who reside within the Borumba Project footprint – ensuring locals receive first cut of early project benefits.  

UniSC students wishing to apply for the Queensland Hydro Scholarship are encouraged to do so before 30 November 2023. Winners will be announced in February 2024. More information on the Scholarship can be found here.

Read more about the Borumba Pumped Hydro Project here.

First published 24 November 2023.