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Defence Minister Christopher Pyne has officially kicked off the next stage in developing Australia’s sovereign naval shipbuilding industry in Adelaide.
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Minister Pyne launched the transformative Naval Shipbuilding College, which will deliver a co-ordinated, national approach to workforce development and skilling for Australia's naval shipbuilding enterprise.
Minister Pyne said it’s an integral interface with the shipbuilding industry to identify workforce requirements throughout all phases of construction and sustainment.
"Today is an exciting day for the future of shipbuilding in this country," Minister Pyne said.
Under the management of the Naval Shipbuilding Institute, the college will also link up with education providers, as part of a hub and spoke model, to ensure courses are offered across Australia that produce workers who are job-ready.
Minister Pyne said, "The college is a critical enabler of the continuous naval shipbuilding program, which will build and sustain Australia’s naval capabilities, create economic growth and secure Australian jobs for decades to come."
The Australian government released the Naval Shipbuilding Plan in May 2017, which outlined a long-term vision to establish Australian sovereign capability in naval shipbuilding.
"I'm particularly excited to launch the naval shipbuilding workforce register. The workforce register will help connect people with potential employers or education providers and I encourage anyone interested in working on some of the most technologically advanced, cutting-edge projects anywhere in the world to register," Minister Pyne said.
The government is investing $90 billion into the continuous shipbuilding program, which is expected to create 5,200 shipbuilding jobs within 10 years, with additional jobs created in the sustainment and supply chain.
The Naval Shipbuilding College, established by the Australian government will identify and close gaps between the educational and training courses currently offered in Australia and the required skills and expertise needed by the growing Australian shipbuilding industry.
Critical to this great national endeavour is a skilled workforce made up of thousands of Australians with the right skills to build Australia’s new fleet of 12 Offshore Patrol Vessels, nine Hunter Class anti-submarine frigates, 12 Future submarines, and 21 Pacific Patrol boats, as part of the government's $90 billion commitment to modernise and strengthen Australia's naval forces.
Based in Osborne, South Australia, the college is a national organisation with reach right across the country, developing partnerships with industry, universities, TAFEs and training institutions in all states and territories.
More information, including the naval shipbuilding register, is available here.
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.
