The Manufacturing Industry Pathway Packs provide students with comprehensive insights into Queensland’s diverse manufacturing sectors. These 14 industry-specific resources help students connect their skills and interests with real-world career opportunities across the manufacturing landscape. Each pack guides students through industry exploration, career pathway planning, and skill development while highlighting emerging trends and technologies. Students develop understanding of manufacturing industries and how their personal attributes align with various roles, empowering them to make informed decisions about their future study and work pathways in manufacturing.
In each Industry Pathway Pack, students explore core manufacturing sectors in Queensland, examine real-world career stories, identify local industry opportunities, and map potential education pathways. The packs place special emphasis on both technical and leadership skills, sustainability initiatives, and future industry trends. The learning resources provided in each pack create connections between classroom learning and workplace applications, making manufacturing careers tangible and accessible.
THE TEACHER’S GUIDE
This essential resource provides detailed instructions on how to effectively integrate each industry pack into your lessons, explains the purpose behind each section, and offers extension activities to deepen student engagement. The guide breaks down exactly how students can utilise different components of each pack—from industry understanding and career stories to pathway planning and future trends research—making implementation straightforward while maximising educational impact. Understanding this guide first will ensure you can confidently help students navigate their manufacturing career exploration journey.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By exploring these industry packs, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of Queensland’s manufacturing industries and their operations.
- Examine career pathways within specific manufacturing sectors that align with personal interests.
- Apply industry knowledge to develop personalised education and career plans.
- Communicate understanding of manufacturing roles using industry-specific terminology.
- Assess emerging trends and technologies shaping future manufacturing opportunities.
KEY CONCEPTS
- INDUSTRY SECTORS: Explore the 14 core manufacturing industries in Queensland including Aerospace and Defence, Food and Beverage, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Technology, and Renewables. Understand how these sectors operate and their significance in the Queensland economy.
- CAREER PATHWAYS: Identify multiple entry points and progression routes within manufacturing, from entry-level positions through to management roles, across four qualification levels.
- SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: Recognise both technical “on the tools” skills and leadership capabilities required for success in manufacturing roles, and how these connect to school subjects.
- LOCATION OPPORTUNITIES: Discover manufacturing hubs throughout Queensland and learn how to research local employment possibilities using industry-specific search terms.
- FUTURE MANUFACTURING: Understand how sustainability initiatives, automation, digitalisation, and new technologies are creating emerging career opportunities across all manufacturing sectors.
THE 14 INDUSTRY PACKS
- M1: Aerospace and Defence – Explore careers in aircraft manufacturing, defence technology, and aerospace engineering.
- M2: Chemicals, Hydrocarbons and Refining – Discover roles in chemical production, petroleum refining, and industrial processing.
- M3: Food and Beverage – Investigate opportunities in food production, beverage manufacturing, and quality control.
- M4: Furniture and Other Products – Learn about careers in furniture design, production, and related manufacturing.
- M5: Meat and Seafood Processing – Explore pathways in meat processing, seafood production, and quality assurance.
- M6: General Manufacturing and Engineering – Discover diverse roles across engineering disciplines and manufacturing processes.
- M7: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Technology – Investigate careers in pharmaceutical production and medical device manufacturing.
- M8: Polymers, Plastic and Rubber – Learn about opportunities in plastics fabrication, polymer science, and rubber manufacturing.
- M9: Printing and Graphic Arts – Explore careers combining creative design with technical production processes.
- M10: Pulp, Paper and Packaging – Discover pathways in paper production, packaging design, and sustainable materials.
- M11: Renewables – Investigate emerging opportunities in renewable energy manufacturing and sustainable technologies.
- M12: Textiles, Clothing and Footwear – Learn about careers combining design with technical production in fabric and apparel.
- M13: Timber and Wood – Explore pathways in wood processing, timber products, and sustainable forestry.
- M14: Transport Equipment and Machinery – Discover roles in vehicle manufacturing, machinery production, and equipment design.