28 MAY 2026: A 16-year-old girl, an Indonesian-born chemical engineer and a university graduate are all examples of how the red meat industry can touch lives and change careers.
A visit to Australian Country Choice this week showed a select group of Brisbane and Ipswich secondary students the possibilities of solid careers in meat processing.
The site visit attracted 40 science, technology, engineering and maths-focussed students to the leading-edge Cannon Hill meat processing plant.
It was the seventh in a national series of site visits organised by Integrated Stem and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC).
Along with an in-depth tour, the students also participated in interactive workshops, including demonstrations on carcase grading, knife safety and the growing role of technology in modern meat processing.
Students came from West Moreton Anglican College, Balmoral State High School, Brisbane Bayside College, Ambrose Treacy College and Staines Memorial College.
Among the attendees was Lily, a year 12 student who showed how influential interaction with the industry can be.
Working part-time washing dishes in butcher’s shop, she met a female butcher. “And she inspired me,” said the West Moreton Anglican College student.
Lily started a butcher apprenticeship, which had to finish when the store closed. Nevertheless, it gave her practical experience. She is also now an expert on retail cuts. Her favourite steak? “Rump. It’s really flavoursome,” she said.
Currently she is studying hospitality and agriculture, and her career plans are now centred on artificial breeding; she hopes to gain her artificial insemination ticket in the future.
One of the group leaders was Indonesian-born Dr Koentadi Hadinoto, an AMPC project officer in advanced manufacturing. He came into the industry as part of his chemical engineering studies at the University of Sydney.
Originally, he planned for a career in wastewater treatment. “But I was drawn into the food processing industry as part of my degree studies,” he said.
His study into dairy production led to his interest in meat processing after AMPC funded his doctorate studies.
Among the visitors was Holly Speers, a familiar face at ACC for the work she did on-site studying lairage times. The former UNE honours student now works for AMPC.
“We are delighted to bring these students through see first-hand the opportunities in meat processing,” she said. “We thank ACC for its hospitality and the learnings the staff have shared. The excitement and the possibilities of a career in the red meat industry are all here.”