Career development with packaging diploma

Alexandra Brayshaw explained how winning an Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) scholarship and attaining her Diploma in Packaging Technology from the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) has helped boost her career.

The APPMA scholarship program, in conjunction with the AIP, enables a packaging technologist, designer or engineer in Australia the opportunity to complete a Diploma in Packaging Technology to the value of $9000 every year. The internationally accredited diploma prepares students to take responsibility for packaging operations at any level through the supply chain and demonstrates their commitment to the industry.

Brayshaw is an Accessible Packaging Researcher in Arthritis Australia’s Accessible Design Division and plans to continue in this role, applying the knowledge she has gained from the diploma. “I work to assist the packaging industry with developing packaging that all consumers can easily open, including consumers with reduced strength and dexterity.”

She explained the opportunities that the scholarship has provided in terms of her career and personal development.

“I had studied industrial design at university, which included subjects on packaging design and manufacturing, but the scholarship gave me the opportunity to challenge myself to expand my packaging expertise. Winning the scholarship also showed me that the packaging industry wants to invest in young talent and ensure that the workforce will continue to have quality skills.

“The course has also given me greater confidence in my work and assisted me in achieving better outcomes with our clients.

“The Diploma in Packaging Technology has given me both a broader understanding of the industry as a whole and a deeper knowledge of a number of key topics. It has been particularly satisfying applying what I have learnt to my work to improve packaging accessibility and I know it will continue to inform many aspects of my role,” Brayshaw said.

She encouraged others to complete the Diploma in Packaging Technology, as it can help individuals keep up with technological trends and provides a strong packaging foundation on which to build a career. Gaining knowledge of the industry as a whole helps individuals see how their position fits in the bigger picture, Brayshaw explained.

“The packaging industry is also constantly evolving with new technologies and trends, so I think it’s vital that the fundamentals of packaging are understood, and the diploma can provide this knowledge set.”