South Australian defence industry pathway programs kick off to build the future workforce

An inaugural cohort of 30 trainees and apprentices have commenced into two new pathways programs aimed at boosting South Australia’s skilled workforce for the defence industry.

The programs, the Defence Industry Pathways Program and the Shipbuilding Employment Pathways pilot initiative, mark a significant step towards ensuring the future of Australia’s defence sector.

With major projects including the delivery of the conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines and Hunter class frigates slated for the state, ensuring the workforce is equipped with the necessary skills will be crucial to success.

“The SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for South Australians to be a part of a world-leading Defence project,” said South Australian Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Stephen Mullighan.

“These programs are not only a critical investment in the future of our state’s workforce, but they also open the door to high-quality, secure careers in one of the most pivotal sectors for Australia’s national security.”

After successfully supporting hundreds of trainees in Western Australia, the Defence Industry Pathways Program aims to support 150 trainees over the next three years as part of its expansion into South Australia, providing a 12-month paid traineeship across various sectors of the defence industry.

The Shipbuilding Employment Pathways program will also play a key role in meeting the demand for skilled workers, specifically for trades related to nuclear-powered submarine and naval shipbuilding industries. The program will support trade qualifications for 125 apprentices over the next two years.

With a projected 5,500 direct jobs to be created in South Australia during the construction of nuclear-powered submarines, and 2,000 jobs to be sustained by the Hunter class frigates, the state’s role in shaping the nation’s defence capabilities is undeniable.

“The Defence Industry Pathways Program and Shipbuilding Employment Pathways initiative enable people of all ages and stages of their careers to get involved, ensuring South Australia’s workforce is equipped with the skills needed for this monumental task,” said Minister Mullighan.

The programs will be delivered by Peer Education Employment and Training (PEER) in partnership with TAFE SA.

Expressions of interest to join the next intake of the programs can be made here.

To learn more about a career in South Australia’s defence industry visit www.FindYourPlaceSA.com

Image: Photo of the Peer Program apprentices and trainees

I get excited about working in the space industry because putting something into space is so difficult. I love the idea of the challenge, that it requires a huge amount of work from so many talented people in a variety of fields all working together to make a project come to fruition.

James, Mechanical & Thermal Engineer, Neumann Space

I love that I’m able to work with others to solve problems that have an impact and make a difference every day while still being able to learn new things.

Georgia, Systems Engineer, BAE Systems Australia

It was exciting moving back to South Australia not only because it’s where I’m from, but because of the emerging space industry. I wanted to help build the space industry in Australia from the ground up, rather than work overseas in an industry that’s already established.

Farisha, Avionics Engineer, Southern Launch

There’s such a variety of opportunities in the defence industry and I’m really excited about the prospect of working on innovative and cutting-edge projects. I have some of the greatest minds around me and these people support me in my growth and development as an engineer.

Jessica, Hardware Engineer, Lockheed Martin Australia

Whilst a larger number of roles in the space industry are in engineering, there are lots of other ways to be involved. Space companies, like ours, still need accountants, lawyers and people in communications and marketing.

Ben, Chief Operating Officer, Inovor Technologies

The best thing about leading a company in South Australia’s defence industry is shining a light on the local skills, talent, and innovation that exists right here, in our own backyard.

Simon, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Silentium Defence

I’m excited for the opportunity to work on massive projects that have a real impact on the future of our Defence Force and the nation’s protection and security.

Jeff, Systems Engineer, Nova Systems

There are a number of projects within South Australia which you can spend your entire career working on and still enjoy what you do.

Dhiren, Commercial Manager, PMB Defence

There’s a misconception that the defence industry is very serious, but the experience I’ve had is that we are a very creative and collaborative group of individuals working towards a common goal.

Jamila, Project Manager, ASC Shipbuilding

This sector is growing fast, which means there are always new and exciting projects on the horizon.

Andrew, General Manager, Precise Manufacturing

If there is something that you want to do, and you want to give back to defence, there is definitely a job out there for you.

Zac, Support Technician, Silentium Defence

What I love most about my job is being able to solve the problems that really matter, knowing that my work contributes to Australia’s national security and economic growth.

Trent, Senior Systems Engineer, Nova Systems

You don’t need to be in the armed forces or necessarily have experience in the defence industry in order to be successful and have a rewarding career. The industry is growing, well-funded and rampant with opportunity…I can’t see myself moving on anytime soon.

Rozanne, Senior Financial Accountant, PMB Defence

A lot of people study engineering and do very little engineering in their day to day role. I wanted to be doing calculations and getting my hands dirty in a work shop. I also wanted to be working at the forefront of technology development. This made defence the obvious choice.

Seth, Mechanical Engineer, PMB Defence

I love the culture of our company and the tech we get to work with. The defence industry as a whole has so much to offer in terms of ground breaking technology. We get to develop really cool products and go out in the field testing them. It’s a really interesting industry with so many different aspects that can be worked on.

Christian, Graduate Software Engineer, Silentium Defence

People should definitely consider a career in the defence industry, it takes all types to do the work that we do and there’s lots of opportunities for growth. Adelaide is not only a really nice place to live it’s a really fantastic place to work especially if you are in the defence industry.

Kyal, Digital Specialist, BAE Systems ASC Shipbuilding

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