Why should you apply for the APPMA Scholarship?
The APPMA Scholarship aims to help professionals gain the qualifications, education and experience needed to excel in their career, and that’s exactly what it did for past winner Anna Roland, Dip.Pkg.Tech. MAIP, Product Technologist, Nestlé Australia.
In conjunction with the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), the annual scholarship gives individuals in the packaging industry the opportunity to complete a Diploma in Packaging Technology and prepares them to take responsibility for packaging operations at any level through the supply chain. After winning the scholarship in 2012 and recently graduating with the diploma, Roland has reflected on how the experience has helped further her career.
Since packaging forms a part of her daily job as a food technologist, the desire to upskill and understand more about the industry was a huge motivator for Roland.
“I found that packaging was hardly covered at all within my undergraduate degree and upon entering the workforce it was truly rare to find anyone at the factory that understood packaging at all. There was a high reliance on suppliers that meant when there was an issue the whole line stopped until advice was given on what to do next,” she said.
According to Roland, the knowledge she has gained will allow her to support her team when designing new products, as packaging is ultimately a huge part of food technology.
“Given that every food product is packaged in some way, I think the diploma has really helped me to think about the product as a whole and can see that this has made me a better packaging technologist.”
The scholarship was a stepping stone for her to further her education in packaging, and she said the diploma has given her a “broad background of knowledge in not just the types of packaging I work with, but all packaging substrates”. She continued by stating that it has left her feeling accomplished and confident in her abilities, and she encourages others to apply in the future.
The winner of the 2018 APPMA Scholarship will be announced at the 2018 PIDA Awards on 2 May.
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