General News
5 September, 2025
Students discover energy careers
STUDENTS from across the Corangamite Shire have gathered to learn more about career opportunities in the energy industry.
On Thursday, August 28, students from Camperdown College, Mercy Regional College and Cobden Technical School, attended rotating workshops with Beach Energy, Lochard Energy and Amplitude Energy.
Students from Warrnambool school Brauer College were also at the event.
The program was supplied through a coordinated effort between not-for-profit Neil Porter Legacy and Beach Energy.
Neil Porter Legacy executive officer Matt Porter said the charity began in memory of his late father.
“Neil Porter Legacy is in memory of my father Neil, who was a teacher for over 40 years and guided many young people into interesting careers,” he said.
“The Neil Porter Legacy works in his name and memory to show secondary school students all the careers that are available to them.
“We try and link it in to what they’re learning at school so they can see careers that match what they’re learning.”
Mr Porter’s father passed in 2018 and the charity was formed in 2021, making this year their fifth year running.
“We just like to get students out of the classroom so they can see how they can use what they’re learning in class in a career,” Mr Porter said.
“Students can learn out of a textbook all of the theories they want but if they learn it and enjoy it, we try and show them the careers that match that learning.
“These students might drive past the gas plant every day, but they might assume that everyone there is a fitter and turner.
“Whereas today they’ve learnt that there’s gardeners, there’s welders and there’s engineers, so it’s just opening their eyes to all the local jobs that are around them.”
Neil Porter Legacy program specialist Dean Dwyer said the program gave students the chance to see real industry opportunities.
“What they’re doing is liaising with the different companies and finding out a little bit more about the different career paths and career opportunities and what happens at each particular energy industry,” he said.
“This came to fruition through work we did with Beach Energy.
“They’re doing some mini workshops so they’ll visit the three different energy industries and then they’ll actually go off to the energy plants and do a site tour.”
Corangamite Shire mayor councillor Kate Makin and Cooriemungle Ward councillor Jamie Vogels attended the day to get an insight into the program.
“It’s great that the Neil Porter Legacy can come to Corangamite and support the kids and give them an understanding of what opportunities are out there,” Cr Makin said.
“We know there’s so many opportunities for them here in Corangamite, but they’ve just got to be shown them and that’s what the Neil Porter Legacy is doing which is just fantastic for them.”
Cr Vogels said it was important for students to learn about these opportunities so they know the options available to them.
“You can’t be what you don’t know,” he said.
“This shows kids that the opportunities are out there for so many different jobs they would never have thought of.
“It highlights the fact that you can branch out as long as you’ve got a good base and good work ethic.”
Beach Energy senior community relations manager Victoria Sharon Donovan said at Beach they were proud to invest in Victoria’s future.
“Through our operations at Otway Gas Plant near Port Campbell, we are embedded within the nearby communities,” she said.
“Our people are proud to support local initiatives that connect students with real career opportunities in our dynamic energy sector.
“Investing in local jobs means investing in Australia’s energy future.”