Advanced Manufacturing Student Showcases 2025

To celebrate their participation in the recent STEM Advanced Manufacturing Future Skills School Program, primary and secondary students from Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast/Logan, Cairns and Townsville in Queensland came together for a series of local showcase events. 

The STEM Advanced Manufacturing Future Skills School Program was delivered by Makers Empire, in partnership with Queensland Manufacturing Hubs and the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development.

The program was designed to increase awareness of the role manufacturing plays in our daily lives, the depth and breadth of local industry, and create awareness of career opportunities and pathways in the manufacturing industry, and an understanding of the skills and experiences required.

The participating Queensland schools received a package worth approximately $7,500 including:

  • The participation of regional teachers in the accredited Makers Empire Learning By Design program with guest speakers from the advanced manufacturing industry
  • Site visit to local manufacturers
  • A 3-years Makers Empire School Subscription
  • An advanced manufacturing-themed challenge course including some of the exciting projects and jobs in the Queensland advanced manufacturing industry
  • Supply of a Flashforge 3D printer and PLA filament to participating schools
  • Hospitality for teacher Professional Development and student showcase days. 
 

At the showcases held in each region, students shared what they had learned about advanced manufacturing and local manufacturing companies. They also presented their possible solutions to manufacturing industry challenges that they worked on with industry partners. 

Students took turns both presenting their designed solutions and then visiting other students’ booths and learning about their projects.

As part of the showcase, the voted on their favourite booths for the Peer Award prize.

Students also presented their solutions to invited industry guests who were assessing all the students’ work for the Industry Award Prize.

Advanced Manufacturing Participating Schools and Winners

Toowoomba

 

The Toowoomba showcase was held at Toowoomba State High School.

Participating Schools

Participating schools included:
  • Toowoomba State High School
  • Roma State College
  • Chinchilla Christian College
  • Vale View State School
  • Darling Downs Adventist College
  • St Mary’s College
  • Merigandan State School
  • St Mary’s School, Goondiwindi
  • Dalby State School
  • Warwick State High School
  • Highfields State Secondary College

 

Toowoomba Winners

Primary School

Peer Award

Dalby South State School – Hose attachment for commercial grain feeders with Finch Engineering

Industry Award

Vale View State School – MIG welding torch holder for Robot Solutions QLD

Junior Secondary School

Peer Award

St Mary’s College Toowoomba – “Phone Jail” device for secure storage of student phones

Industry Award

Toowoomba State High School – Storage solutions for nuts and bolt in a workshop

Senior Secondary School

Peer Award

Roma State High School (Team 2) – SoilPod – smart soil regeneration unit

Industry Award

Roma State High School (Team 1) – Smart & Safe Farm Gates

Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast showcase was held at Palmview State Secondary College.

Participating Schools

Participating schools included:
  • Mango Hill State Secondary College
  • Coolum Beach Christian College
  • Bribie Island State High School
  • Suncoast Christian College
  • Burnside State High School
  • Palmview State Secondary College
  • Noosa District State High School
  • Mountain Creek State High

 

Sunshine Coast Winners

Junior Secondary School

Peer Award

Mountain Creek State High School – marine magic – ocean robot pollution solution

Industry Award

Mango Hill State Secondary College – Stomp and secure (ladder secure platform)

Senior Secondary School

Peer Award

Coolum Beach Christian College – Hydrogrowth -modular hydroponic system

Industry Award

Thermacase – 3D printed cooling phone case designed specifically for overheating

Gold Coast/Logan

The Gold Coast/Logan showcase was held at Coombabah State High School.
 

Participating Schools

Participating schools included:
  • Trinity College Beenleigh
  • Tamborine Mountain College
  • Coombabah State High School
  • Trinity Lutheran College
  • The Queensland Academies Health Sciences
  • St Vincents
  • Emmaus College
  • Hillcrest Christian College
  • Coomera State School
  • Beenleigh State High School
  • Keebra Park State High School
  • Browns Plains State High School
  • Guardian Angels
  • The Southport School
  • The BUSY School

 

Gold Coast/Logan Winners

Primary School

Peer Award

Guardian Angels Primary School – Happy foods lunchbox

Industry Award

Coomera State School – Protect Pods – Safe spaces for frogs

Junior Secondary School

Peer Award

Keebra Park State High School – Electrical Nest

Industry Award

Trinity College Beenleigh – TOM (Transport and Organisation Machine), ROB (removable Organisation Buckets) & COW (Collapsible Organisation Wall)

Senior Secondary School

Peer Award

Tamborine Mountain College – Additron is a fully 3D printed floor cleaner

Industry Award

Shailer Park State High School – 45-, 60- and 75- degree sander jig

Cairns

The Cairns showcase will be held at Cairns State High School.
 

Participating Schools

Participating schools include:
  • Innisfail State College
  • Trinity Bay State High School
  • Bentley Park College
  • Cairns state Highschool
  • St Mary’s Catholic College, Woree
  • Gordonvale State High School

 

Townsville

The Townsville showcase will be held at St Anthony’s Catholic College – Deeragun.
 

Participating Schools

Participating schools include:
  • Ayr State High School
  • Blackheath & Thornburgh College
  • Home Hill State High School
  • Calvary Christian College
  • Home Hill State High School
  • Ingham State High School
  • Kirwan State High School
  • St Anthony’s Catholic College – Deeragun
  • William Ross State High School