With over 450 businesses spanning the maritime, land, air, space, and cyber sectors, the defence industry in Western Australia is a key contributor to economic growth and job creation.
The establishment of a Defence Precinct at Henderson is set to underpin tens of billions of dollars of Government investment in defence capabilities in WA over the next two decades, which is projected to support 10,000 well-paid, highly-skilled jobs.
There’s never been a better time to train or upskill for a career in the defence industry, with secure, well-paid jobs available in exciting and evolving project areas.
With a variety of vocational and tertiary pathways available for everyone — including young people, women, Aboriginal people and Defence veterans — now is the time to ‘Start Something’ in WA’s defence industry.
Defence Industry Skills Centre of Excellence
The State and Commonwealth Governments have announced the establishment of a $14.6 million Defence Industry Skills Centre of Excellence (Defence Industry Skills) in Western Australia under the National Skills Agreement.
The $14.6 million joint investment will establish Western Australia as a leader in defence industry workforce development and position the State at the centre of Australia’s sovereign defence capability.
Defence Industry Skills will lead the design and delivery of training programs for the industry’s emerging skills needs, ensuring the State has a growing pipeline of skilled workers to deliver current and future Defence work. It will uplift training opportunities through curriculum innovation, training pathways and programs, and higher apprenticeships to skill, upskill and reskill Western Australians for defence industry jobs.
Led by South Metropolitan TAFE (SM TAFE), which was recognised as the nation’s leading defence industry trainer at the 2024 Defence Connect Australian Defence Industry Awards, Defence Industry Skills will provide industry with a gateway to access training and workforce development support to address their skill requirements.
Industry and the community will have access to Defence Industry Skills services and training opportunities at SM TAFE’s strategically positioned campuses along the Western Trade Coast at Naval Base, Munster, Rockingham and Fremantle.
The Defence Industry Skills Centre of Excellence is a joint initiative between the Australian and Western Australian Governments under the National Skills Agreement.