Beach Energy, SA Government head back to school to address resources skills shortage ONE of the state's largest resources companies has teamed up with the State Government to address a shortage of students studying geology in high school. Beach Energy is providing half the funding to support the establishment of GeoFutures, a new program for year 11 and 12 students to be run by Thebarton Senior College. Chief operating officer Neil Gibbins said the program was critical for the oil and gas industry, which has experienced recent growth. He hoped the GeoFutures program would provide a pathway for students wanting to study geology at high school to progress through to university and eventually into the industry. "Beach Energy's operations have grown considerably in the past few years, and with this growth comes the need to recruit more scientists, especially geologists, to work in the company," he said. It is important that we encourage young people into careers where they will be able to find jobs in the long term. Beach Energy will also provide input into the course, with company staff among industry experts who will lead some classes. With a decline in the number of high schools teaching geology in recent years, the course is potentially open to students from all South Australian secondary schools. Twenty seven students have already enrolled to study Year 11 Geology this semester and Thebarton Senior College principal Kim Hebenstreit was hopeful they would continue into year 12. "There is no upper limit on intake, so if more students express an interest this year and in future years, we will meet the demand and put on additional classes," he said. One of those students, Afghan refugee Mohammad Jawad, begun studying mining in his homeland before coming to Australia. He hoped the course would help him eventually find work in the industry. Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said energy, mining and exploration were key to the state's future economic prosperity, and the State Government was keen to encourage more students to seek qualifications in these industries.