This article appeared in the March 2025 issue of Australian Printer, authored by Breen Printing’s Kirsty Woodhead
People remain at the core of everything we do – they are the heart of our industry and the cogs in the wheel that keep it moving forward. In 2024, supporting, developing, and recognising our people remained a top priority, both within our business and across the industry.
However, the challenge of finding and retaining skilled people continued to be one of the biggest hurdles. This was echoed in the VMA Skills Roundtable, where industry leaders highlighted the urgent need for structured training, mentorship, and stronger career pathways.
The message was clear – investing in people is not just important, it’s critical to the future of print. When we create opportunities, support apprenticeships, and nurture our talent, we secure a stronger future for our industry.
At Breen Printing, we’ve seen the impact of putting people first. This year, our emerging team members – Liam, Justin, and Jaz – were recognised for their hard work and dedication. Liam was a Casey Apprentice of the Year finalist, and at the 2024 ProPrint Awards Justin was recognised as an Emerging Talent Finalist, and Jaz was awarded the inaugural Geoff Selig Industry Scholarship, an honour that reflects Geoff’s lifelong passion for people and their growth.
Breen Printing also focused on growth to stay relevant in 2024. A major milestone was securing a second site to accommodate our expanding print and solution offerings. In addition, we partnered with Anchor Health Group to promote mental health awareness and fitness within our team. We worked with Steven Gamble, providing training in mental health first aid and support through Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offerings.
In 2025, we will focus on bringing our growth strategy to life – by investing in new equipment, expanding our team, and refining our direction. A major priority is the launch of a targeted B2C platform, a project that has been years in the making.
Collaborating with our industry software partners will be a vital part of the success of this project and I am excited to launch this soon. There has been a notable shift in consumer preference for online ordering and developing customised ordering platforms and we’ve positioned ourselves to meet that demand.
In 2025, we’ll also continue to push forward with sustainability initiatives that create real impact. As we continue to work with our team to implement environmental accreditation, we are also developing recycling solutions for our clients and community. Our focus is on creating a closed-loop system, where we partner with suppliers and waste management partners to offer solutions that allow clients to return their products to us for responsible recycling and waste management.
From an industry standpoint, change is around the corner for our industry in 2025. I predict we will see a significant shift in the way businesses operate. Digital integration, automation, and the evolving needs of consumers are just some areas that will make an impact on business.
The rapid advancements in AI and automation over the past year also mean these technologies will be integrated more deeply into print production. Working with these changes, rather than against them, will be key to keeping our industry thriving.
These trends are fast moving, and we will need new people in our industry to assist as we adapt to the changing environment. The next 12 months will bring these talents into our sector, and with them, new ways of working.
We are looking to find out more about innovations that can support our growth at this year’s tradeshows, such as PacPrint.
We are particularly interested in exploring automation technologies to improve efficiency, streamlining workflows, and integrating smarter automation into our production processes.
The biggest challenge for many, though, will be staying competitive in a space where large players dominate. As small business owners transitioning into the medium business space, we have faced significant challenges in line with the cost-of-living crisis affecting Australia.
Pressure has come from every direction, and we have found supporting our people and community a vital part of staying motivated for our future. For us, that means diversifying our service offerings, embracing automation, and finding new ways to connect with our customers. In today’s climate, both within our industry and the wider community, we continue to face challenges that we will need to find ways to overcome.
But you can’t pour from an empty cup. We can’t rely solely on resilience, grit, and determination to carry us forward as the weight of it all can be too much. Asking for help, prioritising mental health, and creating a culture of support will allow us to thrive in this ever-changing landscape.
Comment below to have your say on this story.
If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.
Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter
