The big industries in Queensland shaping careers | Study Queensland
12 Feb 2021
Investing in a big future? You’ve come to the right place. Queensland is a hub for global careers of the future, connecting the world’s best minds to big projects, research and industry opportunities. With world-class institutions offering hundreds of courses for undergraduate and post-graduate students, Queensland is the place to launch a big future.
Looking forward to a big future? Here are the key industries in Queensland that will launch your big global career.
Advanced agriculture
Queensland has all the ingredients for a globally competitive agriculture and food sector with a well-established history of pioneering research and development. The state is uniquely placed with a tropical and subtropical climate and varied terrain and land systems adding to its agricultural strengths.
More than 88% of Queensland’s 1.72million SQ KM of land is devoted to agriculture with a quarter of that located in Tropical North Queensland, including Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton, as well as Toowoomba in the state’s southeast.
Queensland Government and industry partners, in conjunction with the state’s major tertiary institutions, are investing in the development of new technologies, tools and plant varieties for an economically viable future.
Increasingly, traditional agriculture intersects with non-traditional courses such as science, technology and engineering for best outcomes, meaning education pathways and options are varied for this forward-looking industry with a particular focus on the environment and sustainability.
Advanced manufacturing
Queensland has the goods when it comes to the delivery of advanced manufacturing technologies, systems, products and services that are innovative, sustainable and embedded in global supply chains.
This includes the creation of regional manufacturing hubs in Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton that service multiple industries such as metal production, food product manufacturing, and marine, rail and aviation transport machinery and equipment.
Advanced manufacturing integrates with several other knowledge-intensive industries identified by the Queensland Government – Advanced Agriculture, Next Generation Aerospace, Biomedicine, Sustainable Energy and Smart Mining – as it facilitates the capabilities and deliverables of these other industry outcomes.
Education pathways include STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) courses as well as vocational education and training opportunities. James Cook University is ideally placed near regional manufacturing hubs in Cairns and Townsville, while studying at Central Queensland University offers opportunities in Rockhampton. Advanced Manufacturing study pathways are also available at QUT, The University of Queensland and Griffith University.
Next Generation Aerospace
Take off in an exciting and emerging industry that’s really going places. Aerospace equals jobs of the future, building on Queensland’s reputation as an aviation hub for aircraft manufacturing and maintenance and expanding into space. Queensland has one of the largest, most advanced heavy engineering maintenance facilities in the southern hemisphere - the Brisbane Airport Heavy Maintenance Hangar, and is also home to Australia’s largest defence airbase – the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley, 1 of 3 in the state.
Almost half of the world’s top 10 aerospace companies have a presence in Queensland, including Boeing, Airbus, Northrup Grumman and Raytheon. Queensland also has collaborative research programs in place with the USA in regards to hypersonic flight, new aerospace materials and the development of defence project capabilities.
Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies is investing heavily in developing, testing and deploying new space technology, including the 2022 launch of the first Australian payload on an Australian rocket from Australia – an exciting step for Australia’s fledgling space industry.
Qualifications and courses specific to aerospace are offered at The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, University of Southern Queensland, Southern Cross University, Griffith University and TAFE Queensland. Aviation Australia has two campuses in Queensland – Brisbane and Cairns – to provide training across a wide range of aerospace qualifications.
Biomedicine
Queensland’s biomedicine sector is under the microscope with big growth forecast for this industry. Considered a global expert in tropical medicine and infectious diseases with expertise in the in-demand fields of e-health and telemedicine, Queensland has a world-class research base, state-of-the-art translational research facilities and hospitals, and 2 of Australia’s leading biopharmaceutical contract manufacturers.
Pre-clinical and early-phase clinical trials capabilities allow for projects across vaccine development and delivery, biome analysis and development, immunotherapies and complementary medicines. In the world of biotechnology, opportunities include innovative medical devices and diagnostics and digital health technologies such as connected and wearable devices and telehealth.
Study opportunities for a career in biomedicine and health technology are varied with relevant courses offered at most Queensland universities.
Sustainable energy
Smart solutions for the future start now, so Queensland is ahead of the curve when it comes to sustainable energy research, projects and opportunities, particularly innovation in low-carbon hydrogen technology. Queensland is at the forefront of renewable hydrogen production in Australia, thanks to the state’s natural resources.
Queensland has the potential to produce, store, use and export renewable hydrogen from existing manufacturing ports such as Gladstone, Brisbane and Townsville. The state’s abundant sustainable energy sources and technical and research capabilities make Queensland the ideal location for the development of a green hydrogen sector.
Key industry support for large-scale production of biofuels and renewable energy are in the works in conjunction with university and research centres across Queensland. As an example, The University of Queensland Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) is made up of 6 research centres with the vision to find solutions to a sustainable path.
Education pathways are numerous within this multifaceted industry that draws on science, engineering, environmental science and manufacturing. Relevant courses, such as environmental engineering, science and environmental science, can be found at most Queensland universities.
Smart mining
Global demand for commodities will only continue to grow in the future with a focus on increased sustainability and productivity. Queensland already has a world-leading mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector with the opportunity to export this niche knowledge and expertise to other states and overseas markets.
Partnerships between METS companies, the energy and resources industry and research institutions provide the opportunity to create innovative, profitable and environmentally sustainable mines and gas fields for the future.
METS Ignited, an industry growth centre at QUT Gardens Point campus in Brisbane, focuses on collaboration to bring innovative ideas to market. The METS Ignited Bowen Basin cluster program connects big business and research for future-focused mining solutions at this historic major coal-producing region in central Queensland.
Looking for solutions for a sustainable future in the supply of raw materials, The University of Queensland’s SMI comprises 6 research centres, including the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining and Centre of Mined Land Rehabilitation.
Uncover a career in the mining, resources and energy industry through relevant degrees in geography, science, engineering and environmental science at most Queensland universities.
Want to know more? Find out why Queensland is the place to start your global career here.
Posted by: Study Queensland