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The University of South Australia has launched a series of workshops to keep Australia's hub of defence industry prepared for a return to normality following the end of isolation measures to control COVID-19, while having a minimal impact on the AU$100 billion worth of defence programs set to launch in the state.
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Years of hard work have gone into developing the networks and connections, the expertise and investments and the global partnerships to make South Australia the ‘defence state’, so what impact the COVID-19 pandemic might have is something worth talking about.
UniSA researcher in its Centre for Workplace Excellence, Dr Shruti Sardeshmukh, who is undertaking research into the development of the defence industry, is conducting a series of online workshops with defence stakeholders, defence companies large and small, government and industry organisations, to assess the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
“I want to incorporate an understanding of the impact of COVID-19 into my research on the defence industry sector and its resilience as part of a globally networked industry. Many homegrown SMEs (small and medium enterprises) from South Australia have been successful in winning critical contracts just recently,” Dr Sardeshmukh explained.
Director defence at UniSA, Matt Opie, said adapting to the challenging circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact.
“While public health and the health of the economy are top priorities right now for everyone, we can’t afford to allow the pandemic to impact our efforts to develop critical sovereign industrial capabilities within the defence industry,” Opie said.
He added, “If anything, COVID-19 is teaching us that we need to strengthen Australia’s industrial and manufacturing capacity across the sector, and what we are developing through defence, in both know-how and in vital partnerships, will have applications beyond the sector.”
Dr Sardeshmukh said the industry consultation workshops will help to inform the wider research project and provide strategies to ensure current projects are delivered successfully. Industry representatives wanting to take part in the workshops can register with Dr Sardeshmukh at
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
