Australian submarine company ASC is taking the opportunity to work with Australia’s leading nuclear science organisation ANSTO to explore new career pathways critical to the AUKUS submarine program. ASC and ANSTO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will help build the specialised skills and expertise needed to support Australia’s future, conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
The MOU marks another key milestone in building Australia’s future nuclear workforce and unlocks career opportunities for health physicists and nuclear operators. In preparation for AUKUS, ASC has been recruiting nuclear experts from around the world and now has more than 1,000 years of combined nuclear experience in the organisation.
Under the new agreement, ANSTO will support workforce development through technical training, operational experience, and hands-on secondments at its Sydney premises, which has been operating since 1957. Health physicists will be responsible for maintaining radiological controls and ensuring the protection of people and the environment from potential hazards, while nuclear operators will support safe, secure operations at facilities where radioactive materials are stored.
ASC Chief Nuclear Officer Neil Crewdson welcomed the ANSTO partnership as a step forward in establishing the nuclear workforce and growing sovereign industrial capability. “With ANSTO’s support, we’re creating opportunities for Australians to step into critical roles that uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and operational excellence.”
Group Executive ANSTO Dr Miles Apperley said the MOU would help build a skilled, sovereign workforce. “This MoU reflects ANSTO’s ongoing and evolving commitment to supporting Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine capability by sharing our deep operational experience.
Health physicists and nuclear operators will commence secondments at ANSTO’s Sydney premises in early 2026.
In March 2024, ASC was selected as the Australian Government’s Sovereign Submarine Partner to sustain and, together with BAE Systems, jointly build conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines at Osborne, known as SSN AUKUS. At Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia, ASC will deliver sustainment services for Australia’s future Virginia Class and SSN AUKUS submarines. At the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, ASC, in partnership with BAE Systems, will build Australia’s sovereign SSN AUKUS submarines.
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