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The Federal Government has launched a $15.8 million initiative called Propel: Australian Submarine Scholarship program, to support the development of Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarine workforce.
Propel will offer up to 3,000 scholarships to students studying in priority STEM fields at Australian universities.
Over its three‑year rollout, the program will provide financial support as well as opportunities to learn from some of Australia’s most accomplished scientists and engineers. More than 800 students nationwide are already taking part as members of the inaugural cohort.
Delivered through a partnership between the Australian Submarine Agency and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Propel will help grow the highly skilled workforce needed to deliver and sustain Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines, a key capability under the AUKUS partnership.
“AUKUS represents one of the most significant industrial endeavours in our country’s history and the Albanese Government continues to invest in young Australians who will make up our future workforce,” according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Richard Marles.
“In order to successfully deliver Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program, we need to ensure we are developing the skills needed to build and sustain them.
“The Propel scholarship program will help to strengthen our future defence workforce – helping to deliver the capabilities that will keep our nation safe and support a future made in Australia.”
Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program will create around 20,000 highly skilled jobs nationwide over the coming decades.
The scholarships align with the Federal Government’s broader investments to increase the pipeline of STEM‑qualified Australians for the nuclear‑powered submarine enterprise, including through the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Student Pathways program for additional Commonwealth Supported Places, the Australian Submarine Agency Nuclear Graduate Program, and national workforce development initiatives as part of the Skills and Training Academy.
ATSE has a history of delivering successful scholarship programs with connections to academia, industry and government, including Defence, to provide the best educational and career outcomes for scholarship recipients.
“ATSE is proud to be empowering the next generation of leaders and helping to build Australia’s science, tech and engineering-fuelled workforce of the future,” according to ATSE chief executive officer Professor Kylie Walker AM.
“Australia’s secure and productive future will rely on a critical workforce comprising thousands of highly-skilled graduates - and ATSE is pleased to be part of the solution.
“Through programs like Propel, we’re working across Australia with government and industry to put the nation on the path to innovate, diversify and build our future security, capability and strength.”
