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With South Australia’s naval shipbuilding industry booming, local students are capitalising on the opportunities being offered by the Naval Shipbuilding College and the federal government.
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The NSC has partnered with training and education providers across Australia to "ensure courses are aligned with the future need of the naval shipbuilding industry and produce job-ready graduates".
"More than 15,000 skilled and professional naval shipbuilding jobs will be created to build and sustain the Royal Australian Navy's future fleet, including the Attack Class submarines, Hunter Class frigates and Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels," NSC program director Bill Docalovich said.
"With decades of naval shipbuilding and sustainment work in the pipeline, students have an opportunity to secure meaningful work over their lifetime, from the ship deck to the board room.
"Since its launch in November, around 500 people from throughout Australia have already registered their interest in a naval shipbuilding career and thousands more will follow."
Docalovich also noted that an "unprecedented range of opportunities exist for smart and skilled students to work on the world's most technologically advanced projects".
Flinders University was one of the first tertiary institutions in the country to partner with the NSC and progress towards course endorsements in computer science, cyber and engineering, including software, mechanical, electrical and naval architecture.
"Our best and brightest will connect with naval shipbuilding employers through the NSC Workforce Register to work on exciting projects, right here in South Australia," Flinders University deputy vice-chancellor (students) Professor Clare Pollock said.
"Flinders has again secured internship opportunities under the French embassy's Nicolas Baudin Internships in France Initiative that will see students undertake internships with Naval Group, Thales and Dassault Systemes in partnership with leading French academic partners."
A robotics engineering student from Flinders, Caitlin Kramer, is looking forward to a six-month industry placement with Thales in France.
"My desire is to stay and work in South Australia after I graduate and the rapid expansion of the state's naval shipbuilding industry has given me the opportunity to do that," Kramer said.
And in another boost for local shipbuilding, as well as across the country, the government has opened the floor for constructive discussion from industry, with the release of the Naval Shipbuilding Strategic Workforce Discussion Paper.
Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne said the government is "seeking submissions on the Discussion Paper, including any pertinent data, to help guide further actions and initiatives to support the development of the naval shipbuilding workforce".
“The government’s investment in establishing the National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs across Australia,” Minister Pyne said.
“In order to meet the future demands of the Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise, we must ensure we have the right people, at the right time, with the right skills.
“By providing a submission on the Naval Shipbuilding Strategic Workforce Discussion Paper, businesses and other interested parties will help inform the continuous workforce planning being undertaken in support of the National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise.”
