Delivering skilled defence industry jobs in South Australia

Almost 300 more young South Australians will have access to new training and employment pathways, to equip them with the skills needed for a career in the state’s vibrant defence industry.

The Albanese Government in partnership with the Malinauskas Government will establish the Defence Industry Pathways Program and the Shipbuilding Employment Pathways pilot initiative. These programs will enable trainees and apprentices, including school leavers, to obtain world-class qualifications while receiving hands-on training opportunities and full‑time paid employment.

A strong defence industry in South Australia will be critical to delivering the nation’s future conventionally‑armed, nuclear‑powered submarines and major surface combatant vessels, including the Hunter class frigate. These capabilities will support thousands of jobs and underpin over $30 billion in investment in the state over the next decade.

At its peak, up to 5,500 direct jobs are forecast to be created in South Australia for the build of nuclear-powered submarines, while the construction of the Hunter class frigates at Osborne will sustain at least 2,000 jobs and create at least 500 new jobs over the next decade.

Delivery of the Defence Industry Pathways Program and the Shipbuilding Employment Pathways pilot is being co-designed with the South Australian Government.

Peer Education Employment & Training Ltd (PEER) has been selected to support these programs as the Group Training Organisation, in partnership with TAFE SA as the Registered Training Organisation.

From today, PEER is accepting expressions of interest for both programs, with the first group of trainees and apprentices to commence from March 2025.

These fully funded programs are the latest initiatives by the Albanese Government to quickly grow this workforce. They build on the work underway with South Australia to grow, train and retain a high-skilled workforce now and for decades to come.

Together, we are investing in over 20 initiatives under the joint Commonwealth-South Australia Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Action Plan, including:

• the Skills and Training Academy at Osborne;

• the Schools Pathways Program, supporting almost 5,000 secondary students;

• over 1,000 additional Commonwealth Supported Places at the University of Adelaide and Flinders University over the coming years.

Quotes attributable to Acting Prime Minister, Richard Marles:

“The Albanese Government continues to prioritise investments to skill and grow South Australia’s workforce to deliver some of the largest and most complex projects critical to Australia’s national security.   

“Our future conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines and commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding will create a pipeline of high-skilled, well-paid jobs in South Australia for generations.

“By investing in programs that support apprentices and trainees now, we are working to ensure a defence future made in Australia.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy

“A skilled defence industry is critical to a safer future made in Australia.  

“These initiatives will help deliver the workforce required to deliver the capabilities needed to safeguard the nation while providing a path to financial security for thousands of South Australians.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:

“The Albanese Government is building a world-class vocational education sector and ensuring that all apprentices and trainees have access to the high-quality training to meet the skills needs of the future.”

"We’re putting TAFE at the centre of delivering Australia’s future defence industry workforce.

 “This program is another great example of the partnership between the Albanese and the Malinauskas governments to build the critical skills needed to support AUKUS.”

Quotes attributable to SA Treasurer and Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Stephen Mullighan:

“The number of skilled workers required for South Australia’s defence industry is set to skyrocket, between work on the Hunter Class frigates and the local construction of the SSN-AUKUS conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.  

“This surge in demand means South Australians will have access to thousands of highly‑skilled, highly-paid career opportunities in the coming years and decades.

“Through the Defence Industry Pathways Program and the Shipbuilding Employment Pathways, we’re proud to partner with the Commonwealth Government to support people of all ages and backgrounds into these roles.”

Quotes attributable to SA Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer:

“We have a big job ahead of us to significantly increase our skilled workforce to meet the demands of our emerging defence industry and other areas of growth in our state.

“The Schools Pathway program will support our young people by providing an understanding of the defence industry and the various careers available to them as part of the sector.

“We want students and apprentices to know they can start their journey to a career in defence while still at school, getting qualifications that will get them a job when they finish their SACE.”