The State Government has committed an additional $11 million over the next four years to ensure a pipeline of skilled professional and para-professional workers in the defence industry, building on previous investments to boost Western Australia's defence industry capabilities.
As part of the investment, the State Government today launched 'The Other Force - Start something' campaign, shining a spotlight on the industries that support Australia's Defence Force to be the best it can be. The campaign showcases the exciting and rewarding careers available to Western Australians, across all five defence capability domains: land, air, maritime, space and information and cyber.
The high sensory, fast paced campaign will encourage school leavers, youth, veterans, women, career changers, mature aged workers and skilled workers looking to 'Start something' with WA's defence industry. The campaign was developed in consultation with WA defence industry employers, Team WA universities and training providers, and features real Western Australians, including Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans, working in the industry. The campaign highlights the crucial importance of occupations such as engineers, project managers, logistics personnel, technicians, commercial management and cyber and ICT professionals.
The campaign is further supported by several new defence workforce initiatives including:
- $4 million internship and graduate scholarship program to facilitate the placement of 190 students and 50 graduates in defence industry firms over three years;
- program to drive the reskilling and upskilling of new and existing defence industry workers, including grants for employers to work with WA universities and training providers to develop new education and training products;
- $1.08 million for an Existing Worker Traineeship program over four years, to support career progression of existing workers into critical para-professional and professional roles;
- $700,000 for a university and VET articulation program over four years; and
- $180,000 for a veterans skills mapping and career transition project to complement the existing Defence Industry Veterans Employment Scheme.
The State Government continues to make defence a priority sector as part of its vision to further support WA's sovereign capability, diversify the economy and create more jobs for Western Australians. The recently launched Western Australian Defence Industry Workforce Development Plan 2022-27 provides a roadmap to ensure the future workforce and skilling needs are anticipated and met.
For further information about the defence initiatives, visit the Defence website page https://www.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/defence