Secondary school students will gain valuable experience in the defense industry through activities like project-based learning, industry visits, presentations, and challenges. This initiative is part of a Federal Government Federation Funding Agreement with South Australia and Western Australia, known as the Schools Pathways Program (SPP).
Funded under the Government’s $5.1 million Defence Industry Development Strategy, the SPP will offer students opportunities to connect with mentors and highly skilled defense industry professionals. The program aims to promote STEM education and create pathways for students to pursue careers in the defense industry.
Teachers and carers will also receive professional development opportunities and practical information to support their discussions with students. This effort complements the Government’s funding of 4,000 commonwealth-supported places in STEM bachelor degrees across 16 Australian universities, with a quarter designated for institutions in South Australia, where the AUKUS nuclear submarine construction will be based.
South Australia and Western Australia will play central roles in delivering major defense projects over the coming decades. According to a defense report released in November, South Australia will need to more than double its skilled workforce from 3,500 to over 8,500 by 2040 to meet the demand for the new fleet.
The Government aims to engage 27,000 South Australian students in STEM education throughout primary and secondary school, while also preparing university students for the workforce through paid apprenticeships and the SPP.
“We need more young Australians studying STEM subjects in schools and developing skills for our future workforce,” said Minister for Education Jason Clare. “This program will ensure more Australians have the opportunity to follow their passions in STEM and develop the technical skills we need in national security and defense.”
The Government is committed to building home-grown capabilities and supporting the development of highly-trained, highly-skilled workers to meet the needs of the nation’s defense industry partners, both now and in the future. The SPP is also a key initiative of the joint Commonwealth-South Australia Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Report, launched on November 1 last year.
Commonwealth funding for the SPP is scheduled for the financial years 2023-24 to 2025-26. Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy highlighted that the SPP provides practical career awareness activities for secondary school students and creates links between schools and the defense industry.
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