More apprentices for Australia’s Defence Industry

Better training, more apprentices for Australia’s Defence Industry

19 November 2010

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced the Australian Government would invest $12.5 million in almost 5,000 training places to boost the skills of the Defence industry workforce.

This includes $1.8 million to support more than 400 apprentices.

“The rapidly growing demand for skilled workers in Australia’s resource sector makes it harder for the Defence industry to maintain a skilled workforce,” Mr Clare said.

“That’s why we’ll invest $138 million in skills and training in the Defence sector over the next decade.

“This year, we’ll provide $12.5 million to 68 Defence companies to train their workers and improve the skills-base of the industry.”

The funding is part of the Skilling Australia’s Defence Industry program, which has already funded more than 15,000 training places, including about 1,500 apprentices.

This year the funding will go to training programs including:

• Submarine engineering short courses;
• A Masters of Explosive Ordnance;
• Project Management diplomas; and
• Aircraft Structural Repair training.
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Applications for funding for defence professional, technical and trades training in the 2011/12 financial year are expected to open in March next year.

A list of signed Skilling Australia’s Defence Industry Agreements for 2010/11 and more information on the Skilling program are available at www.defence.gov.au/dmo/id/sadi/.

ENDS

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