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WA Minister for Defence Industry Paul Papalia CSC and WA Minister Assisting the Minister for Training and Workforce Development Hannah Beazley have announced a $35 million investment in the state’s defence industry workforce.
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More than 1,000 Western Australians have already benefited from training opportunities and financial support to launch their careers in Western Australia’s thriving defence industry, according to a new state government report released today.
The Delivering a Skilled Workforce for Western Australia’s Defence Industry report highlights the positive outcomes of the Cook Labor government’s $35 million investment to expand the defence industry and strengthen WA’s skilled workforce across trade, paraprofessional and professional sectors.
Since 2017, the Labor government has championed WA’s defence sector, positioning the state as a national leader in naval shipbuilding and submarine sustainment while securing major Commonwealth defence projects.
Minister Beazley said, “Our investment is already paying off with more than 1,000 Western Australians taking advantage of training opportunities and financial assistance to help them ‘start something’ in the state’s rapidly growing defence industry.”
Key initiatives, such as the consolidated Defence Precinct at Henderson, Submarine Rotational Force-West, and shipbuilding programs for the Australian Navy’s Surface Combatant Fleet and the Army’s landing craft, are projected to generate over 10,000 highly skilled, well-paid jobs in WA’s defence industry over the next 20 years.
“This new report highlights the Cook Labor government’s efforts to date to grow a multifaceted, highly skilled defence industry workforce capable of delivering shipbuilding, sustainment and maintenance activities and nuclear-powered submarine sustainment and maintenance work,” Minister Beazley said.
Minister Papalia expanded on these comments, saying, “Our government has already attracted significant Commonwealth defence projects, which will invest tens of billions of dollars into WA’s economy and create thousands of local jobs over the next two decades.”
To meet the growing demand for skilled workers, the Cook Labor government is delivering initiatives under the Western Australian Defence Industry Workforce Development Plan 2022–27.
- Defence Industry Incentive: Launched in 2020, this initiative has supported 68 employers to train 435 new apprentices in engineering trades, boosting WA’s shipbuilding capacity.
- Defence Industry Veterans Employment Scheme (DIVES): 82 Australian Defence Force veterans have transitioned into the defence industry with $5,000 scholarships helping to fund vocational and university studies.
- Rockingham Jobs and Skills Centre: A dedicated Defence Industry Team provides students, job seekers, and career changers with tailored advice on training and career pathways in the defence industry. A specialist veterans transition consultant is also available to support veterans as they prepare for new opportunities in the sector.
Minister Papalia added, “The Delivering a Skilled Workforce for Western Australia’s Defence Industry report demonstrates the significant gains the state government has already made to build the skilled workforce the industry needs now and into the future.
“Ongoing investment and delivery in key training and workforce initiatives will be crucial to ensuring WA’s defence industry workforce is ready to meet the new skill demands of the projects on the horizon.”
For more information, contact the Defence Industry Team at 9599 8655 or visit them at South Metropolitan TAFE’s Rockingham campus.
To read the Delivering a Skilled Workforce for Western Australia’s Defence Industry report and learn more about the state’s defence industry, visit here.
