Central Queensland University students received bursaries to support their studies in power engineering recently as part of an industry-wide push to strengthen the State's energy industry skills base.

The Power Engineering Alliance is an industry-wide partnership that includes Queensland Government-owned corporations Powerlink Queensland, ENERGEX, Ergon Energy, Tarong Energy and CS Energy. It aims to improve Queensland's access to engineering graduates with power industry skills through a range of initiatives in conjunction with the state's leading universities.

From left (back), Peter Wright (PEA manager), Philip Kaighin (electrical engineer and previous bursary graduate), Thomas Passaris and Adrian Brown (CQU student bursary recipients) and Paul Hoolihan (Member for Keppel). Front, Neil Lowry (GM network for Ergon Energy), Professor Rickard, Joshua Venton (CQU student bursary recipient) and Simon Bartlett (chief operating officer for Powerlink)

The Member for Keppel, Paul Hoolihan MP, presented Power Engineering Bursaries to 3 students from Central Queensland University at a special function held in Rockhampton during October.

"The education of our future engineers is a high priority for the energy industry and for the Queensland Government," Mr Hoolihan said.

"The Power Engineering Alliance and the Power Engineering Bursary scheme stand to strengthen our engineering skill base, strengthen the long-term outlook for our energy industry, and strengthen the academic potential of our next generation of engineers.

"The bursaries are just one Power Engineering Alliance initiative that will ensure our engineering graduates have the best training on offer and gain first-hand knowledge of the sustainable career paths available in power engineering.

"The bursary recipients will benefit from work experience during vacation periods in the Queensland power industry to help broaden their knowledge and understanding of the industry and strengthen their capabilities.

"The students receiving bursaries are an example of the up-and-coming talent we need to make Queensland's power industry the best in Australia."

Central Queensland University Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Rickard, said the industry-sponsored bursaries reinforced the message to prospective students that excellent employment opportunities existed for power engineering graduates.