The Hunter region is facing significant economic transition as the global demand for coal declines. As NSW’s largest regional economy, future skills demand, workforce pathways, community identity and regional resilience will all be impacted by the decisions that are made today.
That is why Net:Zed is bridging the gap between education, industry, and government directly within schools. Ensuring young people are active participants in the changes that are shaping their future.
Your Voice, Your Say
Net:Zed’s recently launched program, Transitioning Economies – Your Voice, Your Say, is a place-based youth engagement initiative delivered throughout secondary schools across the Hunter region.
Not only does this initiative bring energy and sustainability learning into the classroom; it also gives high school students the opportunity to add their voice to the regional transition conversation.
An initiative of MCB Business Partners and supported by the Net Zero Economy Authority (NZEA), the program teaches students about the energy transition and how it will shape future study pathways, jobs and industry opportunities.
The program has been shaped by a student advisory group made up of senior students from across the Hunter Region. The group has played a central role in steering the themes and overall direction of the program.
Net:Zed has supported this process, while consistently taking the lead from students on transition themes, speaker selection and the direction of learning.
Students in the advisory group came from Muswellbrook High School, Singleton High School, Maitland Grossmann High School and Hunter School of the Performing Arts.
As part of the program, students will develop their own concepts to respond to challenges within their communities. At the end of the program, they will have the opportunity to present these ideas to their peers, industry, government and community representatives at a final ‘regional showcase’.
TRaCE supported pilot program
The development of the Transitioning Economies program follows on from a successful pilot program in 2025. The pilot, Net Z(ed), was supported by TRaCE, the University of Newcastle, the NSW Department of Education, and a growing network of industry and education partners.
The course, developed in collaboration with Professor Paul Dastoor and the Centre for Organic Electronics, focused on critical thinking and complex problem solving in solar and photovoltaic system design for school stages 4 and 5. The pilot program was officially launched at the University of Newcastle in October 2025.
