Media Release: Bundaberg Students Inspired by Immersion Day to consider careers in manufacturing

• Bundaberg Regional Council hosted an IT and Advanced Manufacturing Immersion Day to connect local students with industry professionals and explore diverse career pathways
• Manufacturing Skills Queensland and industry partners including Queensland Computers, ACS, Mindflight, Weld Australia, and Smenco provided hands-on activities and real-world insights
• Students gained valuable perspective on various pathways to fulfilling careers beyond traditional routes, emphasising the importance of exploration and practical experiences.

Bundaberg recently hosted an innovative IT and Advanced Manufacturing Immersion Day, bringing together local students and industry leaders to inspire the next generation of technology and manufacturing professionals.

Organised by the Bundaberg Regional Council with support from partners, the event focused on connecting young people with potential career paths while emphasising the importance of pursuing a balanced life that incorporates both work and education. Through hands-on activities and presentations, students gained valuable insights into the exciting and diverse opportunities available in these growing industries.

Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) attended the session to provide students with meaningful engagement opportunities that highlight pathways into manufacturing careers.

MSQ’s Industry Engagement Manager, Schools, Georgi Tomlinson said the event was a good opportunity to build stronger connections between school and pathway opportunities.

“By providing these positive experiences to industry early, we’re helping students make more informed decisions about their futures,” Georgi.

The immersion day also featured representatives from leading organisations including Queensland Computers, Australian Computer Society (ACS), Mindflight, Weld Australia, and Smenco. These industry partners provided real-world perspectives on career opportunities and pathways into their respective fields.

“What we’re seeing is that students often don’t know what opportunities exist in manufacturing and IT right here in their region. These immersion days open their eyes to possibilities they hadn’t considered before,” Georgi said.

MSQ delivered particularly engaging sessions incorporating virtual reality experiences, design challenges, and career exploration exercises. These interactive components were specifically designed to pique students’ curiosity and provide practical insights into manufacturing careers.

“The activities are critical because they transform abstract career concepts into tangible experiences. When students can engage advocates in these industry areas, it makes career pathways known, and feel achievable,” Georgi said.

A panel session rounded out the day, where industry representatives shared valuable insights with the students. Throughout this session, several key messages resonated with attendees:

• Understanding what you don’t want to do is just as important as knowing what you want to do
• Identifying unique personal strengths can lead to fulfilling career opportunities
• Embracing curiosity and fascination in specific areas often leads to career success
• Being adaptable to change is essential in today’s rapidly evolving industries
• Pursuing work you would “do for free” often leads to the most satisfying careers
• Exploring multiple pathways beyond traditional university routes can lead to success
• Building professional networks early creates valuable opportunities
• Trying new experiences, even uncomfortable ones, is valuable for personal growth

Do any of these resonate with you?

The event emphasised that there are many pathways to fulfilling careers in technology and manufacturing, with opportunities to combine practical skills development with further education as needed.

The IT and Advanced Manufacturing Immersion Day 2025 was organised by Bundaberg Regional Council, Queensland Manufacturing Hub (Bundaberg), Link n Launch Program and Queensland Computers.