Careers in manufacturing short course

Empowering Year 10 students: discovering careers in manufacturing

Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ), in partnership with Griffith University, is proud to introduce an innovative career education program designed for students in Year 10, 11 or 12. This two-term course provides students an opportunity to explore career options, understand their current skills and attributes, and develop actionable plans for their future careers, specifically within the manufacturing industry. The program is focused on personalised learning to meet the diverse needs of students, allowing teachers to guide students through the exploration of careers.

General awareness and understanding are an important first step in choosing a career. This program focuses on providing Year 10 students with greater understanding of the industry and the job types available to support their subject selection for senior schooling.

Program highlights

Our career education program will offer a comprehensive learning experience tailored for Year 10 students. Carefully aligned with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s Short Course in Career Education 2025 v1.1, this industry-focused initiative provides students with invaluable insights into careers, and the manufacturing industry. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the industry’s significance and explore the wide array of job roles available. By the end of the course, students will be well-equipped with the knowledge and exposure needed to make informed decisions about their future careers in this vital industry.

Why this program matters

Recent industry consultations and research conducted in 2024 have highlighted several key issues:

Industry perspectives

There’s a need for better promotion of the manufacturing industry and its career paths
A gap exists between school STEM education and industry pathways
Industry often finds it challenging to make and sustain strong connections with schools
Students are often unaware of the variety of roles in manufacturing

Student insights

Many young people show limited interest in manufacturing careers
Common misconceptions exist about the industry’s stability and growth potential
There’s a lack of information about manufacturing’s economic impact and career opportunities.

Program structure

Our comprehensive ‘plug and play’ program will include:

20-week curriculum: Fully developed, flexible lesson plans, for delivery in 35- or 70-minute classes supported by a mix of project-based learning, interactive workshops and continuous feedback.
Multimedia resources: Engaging videos, industry case studies, interactive activities and web-based materials to enhance learning.
Assessment materials: Tools to evaluate student progress and understanding.
Teacher support: A detailed delivery guide to assist educators in implementing the program effectively.
Theoretical framework: A detailed outline of the integrated theories used to support the development of the program.

What students will learn

The role of manufacturing in the modern economy
Various career paths within the manufacturing industry
Linkages between STEM education and career opportunities in the manufacturing industry
How to identify personal attributes and how these might translate to employability skills to support a career in manufacturing
Skills and qualifications needed for different manufacturing roles
Current technologies, trends and innovations in the sector.

Our working group partners

The development of this important project is guided by our working group partners, who have generously given their time.

Urangan State High School

Maryborough State High School

Mitchelton State High School

Edmund Rice Education

Program availability

This program will be available to selected schools starting in 2025.

Register your interest

To find out more about the program, and its release, register below.

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Funding acknowledgement

Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) is an independent body established by the Queensland Government to build a sustainably skilled workforce for a future-proofed manufacturing industry. Manufacturing Skills Queensland is funded by the Queensland Government.