Breen Printing has been named Regional Printer of the Year at the 2025 National Print Awards, a proud moment for a family-owned Yarra Valley business.
The National Print Awards, hosted by the Visual Media Association, are the highest recognition in the industry. They celebrate excellence in print across the country, bringing together printers from every state and territory. For Breen Printing, as a regional business, to be recognised on this stage is incredibly humbling. It shows that innovation and quality are not defined by location, and that regional businesses can proudly stand alongside the very best.
The award celebrates not just the team’s skill and dedication but also the strength and spirit of the Yarra Valley and Yarra Ranges community that has supported them for more than 50 years .
Luke and Kirsty Woodhead, third-generation owners since 2020, have guided the business through a period of significant growth and transformation, combining their diverse printing backgrounds and passion for people with innovative new directions.
The business is deeply rooted in its community – supporting local clubs, events, schools, and iconic Yarra Valley brands – and in return, feels this award belongs as much to their clients, collaborators, and partners as to themselves.
Sustainability and local employment are at the heart of Breen Printing’s vision, with solar-powered presses, recycled stocks, and sourcing materials within 50km wherever possible.
The team, now 17 and growing, represents a buzz of energy and collaboration, nurtured by Luke and Kirsty’s commitment to training apprentices, mentoring emerging leaders, and keeping print visible and relevant for the next generation.
Winning Regional Printer of the Year is seen not only as a recognition of Breen’s quality and innovation but also as proof that regional businesses can shape the future of Australian print.
Luke, Kirsty, and the Breen team extend heartfelt gratitude: this award is a shared achievement with the Yarra Valley community, whose trust and belief in print fuels their purpose every day
In 2023 we celebrated 50 years of Breen Printing in the Yarra Valley. To mark the milestone, we opened our factory doors to the community and joined local celebrations at events such as the Healesville Picnic Races and Four Pillars Distillery. That anniversary reminded us of what has always mattered most to us: people, partnerships, and the role print plays in bringing ideas to life.
Advocating for the future of print is close to their hearts. The Breen Printing team regularly visit career expos connect with schools to show that print offers modern, creative and rewarding career pathways.
Breen Printing’s work is strengthened by purpose-led partnerships across the Yarra Ranges from wineries and tourism to councils, schools and industry bodies like the Visual Media Association, the Lithographic Institute of Australia and Women in Print.
One of the greatest joys of the work is walking alongside clients, from small businesses with big ideas to established brands, and printing their stories every step of the way.
The team sees this award as belonging to everyone, including staff, clients, suppliers, family, friends, and neighbours who continue to support and believe in the business.
When Luke and Kirsty took over the family business in 2020, it was both exciting and daunting. This award is proof of how far they have come together as a team and as a community.
Every project the team produces tells a local story. Seeing those stories come to life in print makes this recognition feel like a shared win for everyone. The Breen Printing team are all local people and they bring their energy, creativity and care into the factory every day. They are at the heart of Breen Printing.
Growth is part of the story too, having recently acquired a second site in Healesville, which will expand the business’s packaging, wide format and finishing capabilities and create more local job opportunities. Yet through it all, their values remain the same: balancing innovation and automation with a personal, community first approach that has always defined us.
Above all, Breen Printing are grateful. This award is a reminder that regional businesses can make their mark on the national stage while staying true to their roots.
The team are proud to carry this award home to Healesville, but in their hearts it belongs to the community. Without them, none of this would have been possible.
