Boost for South Australia’s future defence and space workforce

South Australia’s defence and space industries are set to benefit from a significant investment in STEM education, with new funding to strengthen career pathways for students.

The Australian Government has announced more than $11 million in grants across the country through the Schools Pathways Program, supporting initiatives that will give more young South Australians the opportunity to explore careers in the defence and space industries.

Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, said the investment is critical to building the future defence workforce.

“The Schools Pathways Program and our partnerships with industry and the education sector are key to ensuring our students are equipped with the skills needed for the advanced and high-tech jobs of tomorrow,” Minister Conroy said.

Several initiatives will directly benefit South Australian students, including:

• $1.9 million to With You With Me for the Defence Industry Pathways Program, which will engage with millions of students, parents, teachers and community members across the country, including providing 3,300 students access to information sessions, skill-mapping and mentoring in relation to defence industry careers.
• $1.7 million to Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth Ltd for the AVISTA program that will reach 200 schools, and engage students, teachers, and parents across Australia through hands-on STEM activities, virtual reality experiences, and defence career summits.
• $397,493 to MEGT Australia to support school-based apprenticeships and traineeships in naval shipbuilding and the broader defence industry in Adelaide and Perth.
• $536,243 to Technology for Education Solutions for its Beacon Pathways program, helping SA students develop practical STEM skills through virtual reality (VR), 3D modelling and coding.
• $1.6 million to Fleet Space Technologies for the LaunchBox program, which will provide teacher-led classroom lessons and works with students to build and launch an educational satellite.

“Through hands-on experiences, kids learn to construct 3D nanosatellites, launch them into the stratosphere using balloons, and retrieve the image(s) for review,” Fleet Space Technologies spokesperson said.

By fostering collaboration between schools, industry and training providers, these grants will play a crucial role in developing a pipeline of skilled workers. They will encourage greater engagement with STEM subjects and expand opportunities for students to transition from school into rewarding careers in defence and space.

Now is the perfect time to Find Your Place in South Australia’s defence and space industries. Be part of something bigger and help shape the future.

Explore FindYourPlaceSA.com to discover career opportunities in these thriving sectors.