Forwarding of renewable energy projects by both parliament and the corporate industries, for the future in the Illawarra, has the possibility of broadening the prospects for university students.
On Tuesday, March 10, 2025, industry leaders, federal ministers, members of parliament, and other members of the research and science fields gathered at the expo at Parliament House to make plans for the Illawarra to become a renewable energy source area.
The various fields of research used for these future projects allow for increased job opportunities for university students in various degrees.
UOW Future Energy Network Director Ty Christopher, who attended the expo, explained the impact on energy, technology and science.
“The technology that was on display were directly related to as sustainability and energy transformation, so we had everyone from the large companies such as Blue Scope Steel, through to modern innovators who were based in the Illawarra, some have spun out of the university,” Mr Christopher said.
“We, as a university, are very active in the electrician space; we partner with Rewiring Australia on a major project at the moment, we have large microgrid projects, plural, already underway across both of our innovation and main UOW campuses.”
To support students in their path, as well as future university students who want to study a degree in energy and environment, the government has supported them financially through funding the training and studying for the direction of more renewable energy in the Illawarra.
“Thanks to a $10 million grant from the federal government of Australia, we are in the final stages of completing the build-out of the Energy Future Skills Centre,” Mr Christopher said.
Student Adam Harper expresses his satisfaction with the opening of job opportunities for him and his peers.
“I think it’s a definitely important topic and that would be good for people to get jobs in that area because we need to move to a new sustainable future,” Mr Harper said.
As for the future job opportunity specifically, Business Illawarra and UOW have made a roadmap of the projects that advocate for future workers and employment for these sites.
“The bottom line of the clean energy roadmap is that we could see the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs here in the Illawarra, they would be highly skilled and high-paying jobs here in the Illawarra that leverage the innovation that comes out of the University and all of our local companies,” Mr Christopher said.
The projects are expected to take place from 2030 onwards, with the first step coming with the building of research facilities for university students.
