Building RNA Workforce Capability Through Industry-Ready Training
GMP Workforce Training Initiative
Led by the UTS Biologics Innovation Facility (BIF), the GMP Workforce Training Initiative is designed to build job-ready capability for Australia’s growing biopharma manufacturing sector.
Through a suite of short courses, the initiative provides practical, industry-aligned training accessible to learners at different stages, from early-career entrants to experienced professionals seeking to upskill. Courses reflect modern biomanufacturing practices, technologies, and current GMP requirements, ensuring participants develop skills that translate directly to the workplace.
ABOUT THE BIF
The BIF is a GMP-like, ISO 9001:2015–certified, pilot-scale biomanufacturing facility housing cleanrooms equipped with state-of-the-art industrial bioprocessing and analytical equipment. It supports process scale-up and pre-GMP manufacturing for a range of modalities, including monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic proteins, nucleic acids, and cell-based therapies. The BIF is also Australia’s leading provider of industry-aligned GMP biomanufacturing training. It delivers both theoretical and hands-on training within an industry-relevant environment, enabling participants to engage directly with end-to-end biomanufacturing workflows, equipment, and GMP practices that reflect real-world technical, operational, and regulatory requirements.
What to expect
BIF courses are delivered using a blended approach that integrates:
- Self-paced online learning
- Virtual and augmented reality training
- Hands-on practicals in the GMP-like biomanufacturing environment of the BIF
Trainees will
- Work through end-to-end manufacturing workflows in a GMP-like environment
- Gain hands-on experience with industry-relevant bioprocessing equipment
- Apply GMP practices and documentation, including, batch records, deviations and CAPAs
- Develop an understanding of how biologics are produced in controlled manufacturing settings
Successful trainees will receive a Certificate of Completion or Short Course Digital Badge from UTS.
We envisage the GMP Workforce Training Initiative preparing NSW-RRTN members (e.g., students, EMCRs) for placements in the NSW RNA Manufacturing Facility operated by Aurora Biosynthetics. Similarly, they will open career pathways for GMP biomanufacturing operators, who are in high demand globally.
Professional Education and Microcredential Courses
The NSW-RRTN Training Program will support establishment of a suite of professional education offerings, including short courses and microcredentials, designed to address critical skill gaps in the RNA sector. This includes short courses offered by the UNSW RNA Institute for RNA bioprocessing and quality control.
These and other new short courses will align with government jobs and skills
policies to ensure Australia remains at the forefront of RNA innovation. Proposals for the establishment and development of short courses will be considered for seed funding from the NSW-RRTN Strategic fund. Short courses will be developed collaboratively by partner universities, leveraging their expertise and infrastructure to target key areas such as molecular biology, biochemistry, complex pre-clinical disease models, regulatory frameworks, and clinical trial design.
By fostering partnerships with industry and leveraging the expertise of partner institutions, the Training Program will create clear pathways for individuals to enter the RNA therapeutics sector.