SRK Consulting has announced a partnership with the Centre of Resources Excellence (CoRE) Learning Foundation to support industry‑connected STEM education and increase student awareness of careers in the resources sector.
Through a Garnet Sponsorship, SRK will contribute industry insight, professional volunteers and funding to CoRE programs delivered across Western Australia, including regional and remote communities. The partnership strengthens the connection between education and industry, helping students understand how STEM skills are applied in real‑world contexts across mining, geoscience, engineering and emerging technologies, at a time when early exposure to these pathways is increasingly important.
CoRE Learning Foundation brings more than two decades of experience delivering project-based STEM programs to primary and secondary school students. Its learning model immerses students in industry-aligned challenges to build the habits and capabilities that underpin success in ATAR pathways, university study, and professional environments, including collaboration, communication, problem solving and data and digital literacy.
Suzy Urbaniak, OAM, CoRE Lead and Co‑Founder, said that having SRK as an industry partner continues to strengthen CoRE’s direction in bridging education with industry.
It is so important that today’s students are aware of the awesome industries such as SRK that are driving our world-class resource industry here in Western Australia. To ensure our students who will be our future leaders have this awareness and exposure, having SRK be a part of our community and a driver of our #TheRealClassroom ethos is a wonderful opportunity for CoRE students and their educators," said Suzy.
For SRK, the partnership represents a long‑term investment in future talent and a practical opportunity for its employees to share expertise while supporting the sustainability of the resources industry through the next generation.
Reflecting on close to 40 years in the mining and resources industry, I count myself very lucky to be part of it," said Carl Murray, Managing Director, SRK Australia.
"When I was at school, the resources sector wasn’t well understood or promoted as a career option. This partnership gives students early exposure to what the industry actually looks like, helping them make informed decisions about their futures while building the skills the industry needs."
Throughout the year, SRK volunteers will participate in CoRE’s classroom industry engagement program, working with students on industry-aligned projects and sharing their career experiences.
In 2025, an SRK representative attended one of CoRE’s end-of-year showcases at Joseph Banks Secondary College, where students from Years 7 to 9 presented projects developed through the CoRE Learning Model.
The event highlighted the depth of student thinking, confidence in communication and ability to work collaboratively. It is encouraging to see such a fun and practical way of introducing younger generations into the resources sector and opening up their perspective to new career pathways they otherwise might have overlooked."
Programs like CoRE play a critical role in keeping students engaged with STEM at a formative age, particularly as traditional education pathways into mining and geoscience face increasing pressure.
With more than 150 CoRE alumni now working across the resources sector, the program is increasingly recognised as an effective pathway into ATAR science subjects, university study and industry careers.
For SRK, partnerships such as this play a vital role in supporting diversity, accessibility and capability development across the future workforce.
