South Australians can now register their interest in two exciting new training and employment programs to equip them for a career in the state’s growing defence industry. The Australian and South Australian Governments have launched the Defence Industry Pathways Program and the Shipbuilding Employment Pathways Program, set to benefit nearly 300 young South Australians. These initiatives will provide trainees and apprentices, including school leavers with high-quality training, hands-on experience, and the opportunity for full-time employment, supported by ongoing mentorship to [...]

A team of three South Australian high school students will put their STEM skills to the test when they represent Australia on the global stage at the F1 in Schools world finals in Saudi Arabia next month. The year 12 Modbury High School students, who form Acrux, will complete against some of the brightest young minds from 51 countries for their place on the F1 in Schools podium, after placing second in the Australian National Finals and winning three awards. FI in Schools [...]

Up to 300 university students now have the opportunity to gain vital work experience in the defence industry through the newly launched Defence Industry Connection Program. Delivered by the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), the $3.9 million South Australian Government-funded program is a four-year initiative that aims to create a pipeline of work-ready graduates to meet the state’s growing defence workforce needs. The program connects students in defence-related STEM with placements at defence primes and businesses in the supply chain. [...]

South Australian Defence Force veterans and their families can access even greater support when transitioning from the military into the civilian workforce, under a TAFE SA program dedicated to helping veterans migrate their specialised skills and talents into new careers. TAFE SA’s newly launched Skills Transition Education Program (STEP) provides comprehensive and customised support to Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families carving out new career pathways post service. Developed in consultation with the Department of Defence and ex-service organisations, the [...]

A new partnership between the South Australian Government and Flinders University will accelerate the tertiary studies of Findon Technical College students pursuing in-demand careers in engineering and advanced manufacturing. Under the joint initiative, students will be able to complete the first year of their university degree in year 12, giving them a head start in their careers. Students studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) will be eligible for the program, which aims to build South Australia’s specialised workforce in a [...]

South Australia will lead the charge as the first state to formally introduce a Degree Apprenticeship program for mechanical engineering, paving the way to a promising career in the defence industry. The South Australian Skills Commission has formally declared the innovative educational pathway which provides students with the opportunity to ‘earn while they learn’ and follows the launch of a pilot Degree Apprenticeship program in software engineering. Flinders University has partnered with Adelaide-based Defence industry primes ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems [...]

Sixteen Adelaide-based trainee aerospace workers have joined Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) to support the P-8A Poseidon Through Life Support program. The trainees are currently undertaking in a six-month Certificate II in Aeroskills with South Australian-based based Flight One School of Engineering. After completing the Certificate, they will transition into on-the-job training before supporting the P-8A Increment 3 Block 2 software, systems and sensor upgrades on 12 RAAF fleet P-8A aircraft. The cohort marks the largest single intake by the company [...]

Adelaide-based Rhiannon Reynolds from Aurecon has been announced as the 2024 Australian Defence Industry Network SA (AIDN-SA) Young Achiever Award winner. Now in its 18th year, the Young Achiever Award recognises upcoming defence industry leaders making an impact through leadership, technical ability and industry achievements. Five young leaders were nominated for the award, all demonstrating passion and dedication to the defence industry, with Rhiannon Reynolds awarded the honour for her work as an Associate, Program Performance at Aurecon. In her multifaceted role spanning more than eight years, [...]

Adelaide-based space education start-up Robinson Aerospace Systems has joined forces with Space Elevator in France and The Exploration Company in Germany to launch seven international schools into orbit. Project Space Call is enabling secondary students from Australia, Rwanda, Singapore, Ukraine, Colombia, the UAE and the United States to participate in a real space mission scheduled for launch in early 2025. Over the past eight months, these international students have designed, manufactured and programmed small modules, each containing a microcontroller, LED [...]

Twenty-six university students were recognised at the Defence Industry Scholarship Program graduation ceremony held in Adelaide on 10 July 2024. Now in its fifth year, the successful South Australian Government program is administered by the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), supporting the development of a defence-ready workforce by providing students with unique insights into one of the state’s fastest growing sectors. To date, the program has provided 91 students from Flinders University, the University of Adelaide and the University of [...]

In an Australian first, the GRAVITY Challenge piloted a six-week MicroGRAVITY Challenge at Hamilton Secondary College, proving that the sky’s no limit for South Australia’s next generation of STEM leaders. Founded in Adelaide in 2019, the GRAVITY Challenge was designed to connect industry and government to global innovators in the Space ecosystem and has subsequently been adapted into a new program focused on student innovators. From 6 May to 20 June, 20 Year 9-10 students at Hamilton Secondary College took [...]

For Royal Australian Air Force Veteran Anthony Kunda, a career in the defence industry has proved to be just what he was looking for post-service – combining skills learnt while serving his country with his passion to be a part of something bigger. When Anthony Kunda left the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) after 10 years of service, he felt something was missing. Anthony joined the RAAF in 2008 as a communications electronic technician. His service [...]