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Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh have announced a $200 million investment in the critical training infrastructure to attract and train the next generation of Royal Australian Navy submariners in the Australian Defence Force, with work starting on a new training facility at HMAS Stirling.
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This $200 million project forms part of the government’s $8 billion investment in infrastructure at HMAS Stirling, with the core of this investment being the beginning of construction at the new Training Centre at HMAS Stirling.
This world-class facility will support the skilling of Australia’s submariner workforce, through local submarine crew training and certification for work on Virginia Class submarines, which Australia will acquire and operate from the early 2030s.
Minister Marles said, “Right now, Australian submariners are gaining experience in the United States and United Kingdom, and on-board Virginia Class and Astute Class submarines. Soon they will also be able to receive world-class training in Western Australia.”
The announcement coincides with the launch of the government’s “I am a submariner” campaign on social media, to raise awareness about what a career as a submariner in the Navy entails and the range of conventional and nuclear-powered submarine roles and the opportunities available.
“Developing the skills and expertise to safely operate conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines is at the heart of the AUKUS pathway. The new training centre at HMAS Stirling is part of the Albanese government’s commitment to ensuring we have the submariner workforce needed to support AUKUS, and keep Australians safe,” the Minister said.
Minister Keogh expanded on these comments, saying, “The National Defence Strategy reinforces the need for growth and retention of highly skilled people to deliver Australia’s national defence. People are, and will remain, our most important capability.”
Priority submariner roles that Defence is actively seeking to recruit for Australia’s current and future submarine workforce include:
- Communication networks operators.
- Submariner electrical fitters.
- Electronics technicians.
- Fixed and mobile plant mechanics.
- Nuclear-powered submarine electricians.
- Nuclear-powered submarine electronics technicians.
- Nuclear-powered submarine mechanics.
- Nuclear-powered submarine weapons and sensors network technicians.
- Nuclear-powered submarine electronic warfare network technicians.
“The roll out of this new advertising campaign, coupled with the new training facility at HMAS Stirling, shows the Albanese government is diving right in to grow and skill our Defence workforce,” Minister Keogh said.
Director-General Australian Submarine Agency, Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead AO RAN said, “These upgrades will deliver a leading-edge training facility that will train and develop the submariners who will crew Australia’s sovereign Virginia Class submarines.”
Finally, Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO RAN, said, “Our submariners are rightly regarded as some of the best in the world. The new Submarine Training Centre, which is being built at HMAS Stirling will continue this proud tradition of highly skilled submariners well into the 21st century.”
Construction of the training centre will support local jobs and the Western Australian economy, requiring a daily workforce of around 120 construction personnel, which will grow to around 180 personnel per day at peak times.
