Inspiring the Next Generation: Student Tours at Ferndale Foods Australia

This month, we were honoured to host two student groups at our Ballarat manufacturing facilities, where advanced manufacturing meets teamwork, innovation and strong community values.

Last week, students from the Seed2STEM program joined us for an industry immersion day as part of their journey exploring pathways in science, technology, engineering and maths. Seed2STEM supports young women from regional schools to see the real-world possibilities of a career in advanced manufacturing, and we were thrilled to help bring that to life.

Then this week, we hosted Year 12 Business Management students from Ballarat High School, who are currently studying manufacturing and exploring the inner workings of real Australian businesses. Guided by our CEO Leigh Edward, the students toured our state-of-the-art site, which produces over 135 million snack bars a year and employs more than 100 local staff across production, warehousing, logistics, leadership and more.

We’re proud to be one of Ballarat’s major private employers — but more than that, we’re proud to be a place of growth. Whether it’s a first job or a long-term career, Ferndale is built on learning, mentoring and hands-on development.

For many of our visitors, these tours aren’t just eye-opening, they’re door-opening. They show that local manufacturing today is high-tech, fast-paced and full of opportunity. And that the skills we need tomorrow are already being sparked today, right here in Ballarat.

A huge thank you to the inspiring students and educators who visited us, and to our own team, who so generously shared their time and passion.