How robotics prepares students for the jobs of the future

Technology is advancing faster than the world ever imagined. While this is good news for the energy sector, it presents challenges in terms of a lack of skilled people working in this industry.

Lab61, a spin-off company from robotics specialist Nexxis, has taken an innovative approach to upskilling residents of Western Australia.

Why robotics?

The industry is growing exponentially. Within WA, the use of robotics in the main industries of mining and oil and gas is fast-moving. In addition, working within robotics provides a skill set that easily transfers to other industries, such as space and defence.

The creation of Lab61 is aimed at helping people of all ages to gain necessary skills to work within robotics and associated fields — either from an early age or for those in more traditional, manual jobs that are likely to become obsolete as tech takes over.

It is vital to combine practical experience alongside a classroom approach. Therefore, training and upskilling involves both theory and onsite learning, because it is only by receiving hands-on experience in day-to-day happenings that it is possible to keep up with current technology.

Lab61 offers people of all ages the chance to train, retrain, gain skills or upskill current knowledge to ensure that they’re able to apply for and be employed within various areas of the robotics industry.

The program is split into two value streams:

• Lab61’s Community Engagement Projects focus on giving back to the community and making sure the brains of the future are well placed to make an impact on the robotics industry in years to come.
• The Robotics Academy is for children in years 5–7, starting early and driving their enthusiasm and passion for technology and robotics. Students have the opportunity to build and code their own robots and get a taste of the latest technology revolutionising the energy and mining sectors.
   

Lab61 hosts a Foundation Robotics Academy for Years 5 to 6 and an Advanced Academy for students in Year 7 to 9. It also offers:

• Work experience: Year 10 students get the chance to be onsite and learn how robotics works in a real-world environment.
• Opportunities for university students, including work placements and final year projects.
   

Enhancing training opportunities for WA and Australia’s current and future workforce is the passion behind the Lab61 model. Its engineers (and those of Nexxis) are engaged in the program, providing real-time role models for students to talk to, watch and provide hands-on help with their projects.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Dmitry Guzhanin