Alison Holt, who taught at Busselton Senior High School, said she was informed only days before the program began that her science class would host the Next Generation Energy Program, run by the not-for-profit Energy Club WA. The three-hour incursion replaced nearly a week of her tightly packed curriculum.
"I was told probably a day or two before because, you know, you've got to plan ahead very tightly being a science teacher," Ms Holt said. "Without any consultation and any permission from the parents, we had three hours taken out of our very tight curriculum time."
The Energy Club WA was known as The Petroleum Club of WA until March 2021, when it rebranded "so that the brand reflects the continued promise of connecting people with energy for a sustainable future". Major oil and gas companies Woodside Energy and Exxon Mobil are listed as sponsors. The program has operated since 1991 and involves industry volunteers delivering three lessons focused on energy literacy and career opportunities.
A promotional flyer invites sponsors to "leverage the Next Generation Schools Program" to "maximise impact by pooling resources … save on development costs, and strengthen community ties".
Ms Holt said one activity used bread, chocolate spread and sprinkles to simulate drilling. Students used plastic straws to "drill for oil" through the layered sandwich. The teacher said the activity appeared inconsistent with the organisation's stated message of a sustainable future.