Written by Kerryn Caulfield, Executive Director, Composites Australia Inc.
The Australian composites engineering profession is skilled, talented and deeply capable, touching almost every aspect and discipline of composites manufacturing across the country. Composite engineers drive technological advancement and foster productivity – they are the essential link between ideas and implementation. Every major export of Australian-made composite products—from components for Boeing Aerospace Australia to commercial, racing and pleasure marine craft, carbon fibre wheels, infrastructure components and energy transmission assets—has been engineered by Australian expertise.
Composite engineers contribute directly to sustainability by applying materials that influence positive environmental outcomes. Through engineered solutions that are lighter, stronger and resistant to corrosion, they extend the service life of assets and reduce the frequency of resource-intensive maintenance. In transport, the lightweighting of aircraft, vehicles and marine vessels delivers significant fuel savings and lowers emissions. In sensitive environments—such as wetlands, coastal zones, and waterways—engineers design composite structures that require less intrusive foundations, can be prefabricated off-site and installed with minimal disruption. These choices ensure infrastructure performance while safeguarding Australia’s unique environment.
Looking ahead, composite engineers are also enabling Australia’s ambitions in hypersonic flight and rocket launch systems, where lightweight, high-strength structures are critical to withstand extreme forces and temperatures.
Becoming a Composite Engineer usually begins with a bachelor’s degree from one of Australia’s 35 universities that offer engineering programs. However, careers are built through practice, including internships, graduate research, and, increasingly, postgraduate study in composite specialisations. Government policy supports pathways that connect vocational training with higher education. Currently, students may advance to Certificate IV and then to higher-level qualifications such as the Advanced Diploma of Engineering (MEM60122). RMIT, for example, offers an articulation agreement that recognises the Advanced Diploma for entry into the Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace Engineering) (Honours), granting credit equal to 1.5 years and reducing the degree to 2.5 years.
According to the report ‘Engineering Tomorrow’, released in April by Engineers Australia, the gender balance of the engineering profession is improving. Women made up 16 per cent of the engineering-qualified population in 2022, up from 13.6 per cent in 2016. While progress is steady rather than swift, the profession is on a path toward greater balance.
Engineering in composites is not abstract — it is the day-to-day design, analysis, and production that keeps projects moving, assets performing, and industries competitive. This edition is a reminder that the profession’s value is measured in outcomes that endure.
