Western Australian defence industry firms and peak organisations can now apply for the first round of grants offered through the McGowan Government’s $2.5 million Defence industry grants program. Launched today, the new Defence Industry Reskilling and Upskilling Grants support the development and delivery of new, customised or existing education and training products to meet the defence industry’s current and emerging workforce needs.
The grants program invites defence industry firms, consortia of firms or peak bodies to partner with Team WA universities (Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University, and the University of Western Australia), or WA-based registered training organisations to develop new short courses that address the defence industry’s upskilling or reskilling priorities.
Training courses such as credit-bearing micro-credentials, accredited short courses and relevant Industry 4.0 products or skill sets, designed to reskill or upskill new entrants and existing workers quickly, are examples of products the program aims to support. The McGowan Government’s five years of planning and investment in defence training and workforce initiatives is providing new opportunities for Western Australians to take up jobs in this important and exciting industry.
Administered by the Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD), the Defence Industry Reskilling and Upskilling Grants are part of the McGowan Government’s $11 million package of initiatives to boost the industry’s professional and para-professional workforce. The investment builds on the State Government’s previous $18 million package to boost the State’s defence industry capabilities and trades workforce. DTWD through the Western Australian Defence Industry Workforce Office works closely with Defence West and education and training providers, with input from WA defence industry leading employers across all five defence capability domains of land, air, maritime, space, and information and cyber, to help to ensure WA has the skilled defence industry workforce it needs.
Funding for the grants program will be made available over three years, with a total of $800,000 available in 2023–24. The call for applications in round one is a two-stage process with expressions of interest now open. Selected applicants will then be invited to submit a more detailed application.
Expression of interest documentation can be downloaded through the Tenders WA website www.tenders.wa.gov.au. Expressions of Interest must be submitted via Tenders WA by 2.30pm on 18 May 2023.
More information is on this website page jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/defence.
“The McGowan Government’s investment in a skilled defence industry workforce is important for preparing for current and future defence work as we position Western Australia to attract new defence projects over the next decade." says Training Minister Simone McGurk. “The new Defence Industry Reskilling and Upskilling Grants will increase the defence sector’s ability to recruit, attract and retain a skilled workforce and meet its unique skills needs. The McGowan Government continues to make defence a priority sector as part of its vision to better support our Defence Force, diversify the economy and create more jobs for Western Australians. I encourage defence industry firms and peak bodies to consider how they could partner with Western Australia’s Team WA universities or registered training organisations to help meet the current and future training needs of the defence sector.”