Queensland’s future is in good hands, if the Gladstone primary school students spending their Sunday morning at school putting business ideas to the test are anything to go by.
Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch will join 20 Year 5 and 6 students participating in a half-day workshop that encourages entrepreneurial thinking at Tannum Sands State School this morning.
During the workshop students will learn all the basics of building their own business and selling products – not for pocket money, but to help local charities.
“It’s wonderful to see these young, budding entrepreneurs explore their creativity and showcase their talents,” Ms Enoch said.
“Programs like the Advance Queensland Budding Business Brains workshop help equip children with knowledge and skills that will help them later in life, and prepare them for the jobs of the future.
“Learning how to think on their feet, face a challenge, manage money, be creative, and work with others will have them well prepared leave school.
“Who knows? Some of these students may start a successful business while they’re still in school.”
The students will follow a Club Kidpreneur training program that steps them through developing a business idea, and culminates in selling the products they create to raise money for a good cause.
Mentors and teachers help students research and refine their ideas before they build their products.
Ms Enoch said developing entrepreneurial skills was vitally important for children to prepare them for the jobs and businesses of the future.
“The Palaszczuk Government wants to make sure what is being taught in schools will help young people to be innovative and creative and primed for the jobs of the future,” Ms Enoch said.
“Under the Advance Queensland initiative we are also looking at how coding, computer science and robotics are taught in schools and providing a pathway for more students to study science, technology, engineering and maths because workers with these skills will be in demand.
“Our budding entrepreneurs have shown just how bright our future will be when students have the opportunity to learn and apply some truly valuable skills from a young age.”
Club Kidpreneur has partnered with over 500 schools in Australia and New Zealand to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit in 8 to 12 year old students.