Students shine at launch of Australia’s first nut powder manufacturing plant

The multimillion‑dollar plant, the first of its kind in Australia, was unveiled to more than 160 invited guests, including the Queensland Attorney‑General Deb Frecklington, local growers, food industry representatives, and government stakeholders.

The facility will produce superfine almond, macadamia, and peanut powders, giving Australian manufacturers access to a domestic product previously only available through imports.

For TAFE Queensland, the event was more than a celebration of regional innovation, it was a powerful hands‑on learning experience that immersed students in real‑world industry practice.

To deliver the event, cookery and hospitality students from TAFE Queensland’s Kingaroy, Toowoomba, and Ipswich campuses joined forces to provide full catering and beverage services.

Working alongside Leading Vocational Teacher Jason Ford, the students were responsible for everything from the morning setup through to the final pack‑down, gaining firsthand insight into the expectations of special events.

“Events like this give our students the chance to experience the pace and professionalism that industry demands,” said Jason.

“They’re not just preparing food, they’re representing TAFE Queensland in front of industry leaders, government, and the media. That kind of exposure is priceless.”

The menu, designed specifically to showcase Plenty Foods’ innovative nut powders, included peanut lamingtons, baked tofu satay skewers, almond hummus with seed crackers and banana and peanut smoothie shooters.

Each item required students to adjust recipes to account for the powder’s superfine texture and high absorption rate.

“This ingredient behaves differently to regular flour — it absorbs more liquid and creates beautifully smooth textures,” explained Jason.

“For our students to work with an Australian‑first product before most of the country has even heard of it is pretty special.”

Adding to the significance of the learning experience, students were taken on a private guided tour of the manufacturing facility offering a rare behindthescenes look at the advanced processes behind the production of defatted nut powders.

They then supported a live cooking demonstration led by Jason, where the Attorney‑General joined him on stage to help prepare dishes using the new product.

“Live demos are unpredictable, that’s the nature of hospitality,” he said.

“We had a bit of wind, a big crowd, and a lot of interest, and the students handled it all with confidence. That adaptability is what employers look for.”

The experience also contributed to the students’ professional development, giving them practical, technical, and soft skills that will support their transition into the workforce.

Every participating student received an official letter of participation from Plenty Foods, and all hours contributed toward their mandatory industry logbook.

“Our students can now say they’ve catered a major industry launch and worked with emerging food technology. This experience stands out on a resume,” he said.

“I’m incredibly proud of how they represented themselves and TAFE Queensland.”

TAFE Queensland cookery educator, Jason Ford, entertained guests with a live cooking demonstration.