food & beverage manufacturing & processing

Food manufacturing and processing can be further broken down into the following product areas:

Food manufacturing and processing

  • dairy product manufacturing
  • bakery product manufacturing
  • grain processing, cereal and pasta manufacturing
  • fruit and vegetable processing
  • sugar manufacturing
  • confectionery manufacturing
  • snack food manufacturing
  • functional food manufacturing (e.g. containing
    improved health or disease prevention additives)
Beverage manufacturing
  • wine and spirit manufacturing
  • beer manufacturing
  • soft drinks manufacturing
  • other beverages including juices, cordials, aerated and still waters, energy drinks and other modified beverages, such as vitamin and antioxidant beverages, coffee, tea and ice
Livestock and pet feed manufacturing

Livestock and pet food generally consists of meat, meat byproducts, cereals, grain, vitamins and minerals and other natural additives. Food can be either wet or dry, depending on the moisture content.

Apart from the ingredients, the general manufacturing process for pet food is similar to that for processed food. Therefore, jobs and job roles in this sector are similar to that of food processing, with different food safety requirements.

Qualifications and occupations

Bolding indicates a qualification appears on the Victorian Funded Course List, meaning subsidies are available for eligible students. Refer to the latest Funded Course List for more information. 

The qualifications offer different specialisations to suit different products and occupational outcomes. They are grouped according to general food processing, then specific qualification areas.

Food processing

Provides pre-employment training in preparation for entry-level employment

Food Processing Worker, Grocery Processing Operator, Food and Drink Factory Hand, Food and Drink Packaging Worker.

Food Service Sales Assistant, Food Processing Sales Assistant, Food Sales Representative

Production Operator, Team Leader, Supervisor, Advanced Production Operator, Advanced Packaging Operator, Food Processing Technician

Store Manager (Processed Food),Food and Drink Production Technician, Small Business Manager (Processed Food),Food and Drink Production Supervisor

Food Safety Systems Officer, Production Line Supervisor, Food Technologist, Production Manager, Food Testing Manager, Quality Systems Manager, Food Safety Systems Manager, Product Development Team Leader, Processing Systems Manager, Environmental Manager (Food Processing)

Food Technologist, Production Manager, Food Testing Manager, Quality Systems Manager, Food Safety Systems Manager, Food Safety Auditor, Product Development Team Leader, Processing Systems Manager, Environmental Manager (Food Processing).

Food safety supervisor – health and community services, Assistant Environmental Health Officer (Local Government), Food and Drink Production Supervisor, Food Laboratory Technician 

Baking

Bolding indicates a qualification appears on the Victorian Funded Course List, meaning subsidies are available for eligible students. Refer to the latest Funded Course List for more information.

Provides pre-employment training in preparation for entry-level employment.

Baker’s Assistant, Food Processing Sales Assistant

Plant Bakery Packing Room Operator, Plant Bakery Production Operator, Team Leader

Bread Baker, Pastry Cook, Baker

Specialty qualifications

Wine Operations

Cellar Operator,Cellar Hand,Vineyard Hand,Cellar Door Salesperson 

Wine Bottling and Packaging Operator, Senior Cellar Operator, Wine Grape Grower, Leading Hand, Supervisor, Team Leader

Milling

Sugar Transport Operator, Sugar Services Operator, Sugar Mill Worker, Sugar Processing Operator

Sugar Mill Worker,Sugar Services Operator,Sugar Processing Operator,Sugar Transport Operator 

Rice Production Worker,Rice Flour Miller,Rice Food Manufacturing Worker,Rice Miller,Rice Packaging worker 

Senior Baker, Bakery Manager