Australia’s first digital shipbuilding course commenced on Monday, 30 March 2020 through a partnership between BAE Systems Australia’s shipbuilding business, ASC Shipbuilding, and Flinders University.
Fifty-three shipbuilding workers, whose roles on the Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyer Program end on Friday, 27 March, will take part in the digital upskilling program which is funded by the Commonwealth and South Australian governments.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Flinders University will deliver the course online, enabling students to conduct their learning at home. It is expected when restrictions put in place on movement and gatherings due to the pandemic end, students will be able to attend classes at Flinders University located at the Tonsley Innovation District, in Adelaide’s south.
The newly created Diploma of Digital Technology aims to change traditional shipbuilding in Australia by educating shipbuilders and students on digital technologies, and connecting workers and information systems to build the $35 billion Hunter Class Frigate Program, and will help retain important shipbuilding capability between shipbuilding programs.
During the course, students will combine theoretical approaches to Industry 4.0 technology with hands-on experience to prepare them for work at the state-of-the-art Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, one of the world’s most technologically advanced shipyards.
Minister for Defence, Senator Linda Reynolds said with the Air Warfare Destroyer Program coming to an end last week, this new course will retain important shipbuilding capability.
“As we build the world’s most advanced digital shipyards in South Australia, the Morrison Government is focused on fostering a world class Australian workforce that can leverage digital information and intelligence systems to facilitate greater innovation,” Minister Reynolds said.
Course orientation commences on 30 March, and the course itself will run from April 2020 until January 2021.
The Hunter-class frigates will be based on the BAE Systems Type 26 design selected under the Navy’s SEA 5000 Future Frigate program, and incorporate Australian requirements such as the AEGIS combat system.
