Information for Guardians & Educators

Adelaide is home to the Australian Institute of Machine Learning (AIML) bringing together researchers and industry to provide big data capability, which has the potential to make the nation safer and more secure. Schools can enquire about engaging with the institute.

St Patrick’s Technical College is a purpose built, multi-million dollar, specialist trade training school. The College offers a trade focused South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) curriculum and award winning pre apprenticeship training for Year 11 and 12 students. The St Patrick’s Technical College Metals and Engineering Program prepares students for a career in the manufacturing, engineering, advanced manufacturing, mining, resources and defence industries.

Thebarton Senior College (TSC) has developed a two-year SACE (South Australian Certificate of Education) program that helps students develop the maths, science and CAD/CAM/design skills needed for a high-tech engineering pathway.

TSC has consulted with industry and used the best advice available to build work-ready skills with the highest level of choice. Students can exit the program with competitive ATARs for university pathways or complete SACE with links to trade apprenticeships.

The practical elements of the course provide hands-on experiences including a Certificate II in Engineering Pathways, connecting the learning with authentic engineering contexts in the other subjects in the package.

All out-of-school elements of this program are fully-funded, including uniform and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Students will experience a high-challenge, high-expectation atmosphere combined with intensive mentoring and high levels of support to enable them to become leaders of engineering.

For more information or to inquire about the program, please visit the Applied Engineering Program page on the TSC website.

The TAFE SA defence and shipbuilding careers page offers a wealth of information about what job opportunities can arise from their comprehensive list of relevant courses.

Partnering with the defence industry to deliver world-class research and education, Flinders offers a huge range of defence and national security courses for students.

Flinders is the first Australian University to be endorsed by the Naval Shipbuilding College, with Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Mechanical, Electrical & Electronic, Robotics, Software, Maritime or Bachelor of Information Technology (Networks & Cybersecurity Systems).

Flinders offers students the opportunity to apply for international internships and work with major defence companies such as BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing Defence, Naval Group, Thales, Defence Science and Technology Group and ASC.

Adelaide Robotics Academy is a STEM education centre for upper primary and high school students. The Academy run daily courses at the Thebarton Community Centre, as well as workshops, professional development (PD), excursions, and science displays for schools, libraries, and special events.

Students with an interest in STEM can join the club and learn Computer Science, Technology, Engineering, Logic, Mathematics, and Physics following various Curriculums tailored to their experience level. Advanced students learn Computer Vision, Machine Learning and Deep Learning.

Students also have the opportunity to program robots and drones to solve complex challenges through various scenarios that require innovation, adaptability and teamwork. There is no experience required for beginners and students can start at any time throughout the school year.