Victoria is gearing up for a new wave of engineering-led growth, with major investments in advanced manufacturing, hydrogen transport and critical minerals unlocking thousands of highly skilled roles across the state.

The Allan Labor Government’s new Victorian Industry Policy outlines a blueprint to grow sovereign capabilities, particularly in advanced manufacturing and smart construction. Central to the plan is the establishment of the Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre in Melbourne, backed by $116 million in funding. This will accelerate 3D-printing innovation and create long-term demand for engineers across design, materials science, robotics and systems integration.

In the transport sector, Australia’s largest renewable hydrogen refuelling station has opened in Geelong. The $61.2 million Viva Energy New Energies Service Station integrates on-site hydrogen production and refuelling – a national first. Engineers are at the heart of this project, from the design of the 2.5 MW electrolyser system to heavy-vehicle conversion and infrastructure rollout. Fifteen hydrogen-powered trucks and buses will soon hit Victorian roads, serviced by this cutting-edge facility.

Meanwhile, in regional Victoria, the green light has been given to Astron Corporation’s Donald Mineral Sands Project. Mining 7.5 million tonnes annually, the operation will extract rare earths and other critical minerals essential to clean-energy technologies. Mechanical, chemical and environmental engineers will be key to running and rehabilitating this large-scale, heavily regulated project. Real-time dust monitoring, progressive land rehabilitation and sustainable extraction techniques are built into the plan.

Together, these initiatives are more than just economic drivers – they are a jobs engine for Victoria’s engineering workforce. From city-based R&D hubs to regional mining operations, engineers will play a central role in building a cleaner, more resilient future.