South Australia’s defence and space showcase connects thousands to career opportunities

South Australia’s defence and space industries were front and centre at the Defence and Space Industry Careers Showcase, held as part of the 2026 Adelaide Careers & Employment Expo at the Showgrounds from 7-9 May.

Now in its second year, the Defence and Space Industries Careers Showcase continues to grow, supporting the Expo’s expansion to three days for the first time, and helping to attract more than 20,000 attendees, a 15 per cent increase on 2025.

More than 13,000 students joined teachers, career advisors, job seekers and industry professionals, to explore the range of potential careers within South Australia’s rapidly growing defence and space sectors. From shipbuilding and aerospace to cyber security, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, the showcase highlighted the range of careers shaping the state’s future.

The dedicated defence and space pavilion featured more than 20 exhibitors, including primes, small and medium enterprises and education providers.

Exhibitors at the Showcase included ASC, Australian Submarine Agency, Australian Space Agency, BAE Systems Australia, Boeing Defence Australia, Saab, and REDARC Defence & Space, alongside universities, TAFE SA and training organisations.

The Royal Australian Navy also attended as part of its 125th anniversary, recognising the vital role the defence industry plays in supporting Australia’s Defence Force capability.

The showcase is one of 22 initiatives under the South Australian Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Action Plan, a joint Australian and South Australian Government initiative to strengthen the future defence industry workforce pipeline.

Attendees engaged with interactive displays and hands-on demonstrations, with strong interest in activations including a CSIRO-led Mission Operations Centre (MOC)  experience, which offered a glimpse into Australia’s space capabilities.

CSIRO were accompanied by Southern Launch who also drew a strong audience, providing the next generation of space talent with an immersive glimpse into the astronaut experience.

REDARC Defence & Space delivered hands-on demonstrations, showcasing ruggedised power systems integrated into defence platforms and bringing real-world applications to life for attendees.

Executive General Manager of REDARC Defence & Space Scott Begbie said the strong engagement highlighted the critical importance of inspiring and developing future industry talent.

“Engaging with thousands of attendees over the three days, our team saw first-hand the immense enthusiasm and raw potential ready to drive the next generation of South Australian advanced manufacturing,” Mr Begbie said.

“By connecting with students today, we are helping to build the highly skilled workforce needed to power Australia’s sovereign capabilities into the future.”

The showcase provided a valuable opportunity for students, parents, educators and veterans to connect directly with employers and explore clear career pathways into defence and space.

With more than 10,000 additional defence industry jobs expected in South Australia by 2040, the event reinforced the scale of opportunity available across engineering, trades, project management and digital technologies.

Events like this are helping more people find their place, connecting talent with opportunity and strengthening South Australia’s future defence and space industry workforce.