Australian states, territories commit to shipbuilding workforce

Every Australian state and territory is set to join forces with the Australian government to develop a skilled national naval shipbuilding workforce by signing cooperation agreements with the government’s Naval Shipbuilding College. The cooperation agreements commit the states and territories to working with the Naval Shipbuilding College to establish and develop new workforce pipelines and ensure there are clear career pathways for jobseekers into the naval shipbuilding sector. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the agreements supported a nation-wide effort to developing the future workforce by providing the education and training required to deliver a sovereign shipbuilding capability. “A skilled and experienced workforce remains critical to the successful delivery of a new naval capability and the ongoing sustainability of the National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise,” Price said. “This is truly a national endeavour. All states and territories have an important role in supporting the success of the Enterprise through workforce development and skills growth. It is expected that by 2030 the shipbuilding sector will support about 15,000 jobs across Australia.” South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Tasmania and Victoria have signed cooperation agreements, with the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland to follow. The Naval Shipbuilding College is partnering with all levels of government, shipbuilding Prime contractors, Australian businesses, and education and training providers to help create a national shipbuilding workforce. The college is headquartered in South Australia, and through a hub-and-spoke model has national reach to ensure a coordinated approach to workforce development. The college’s establishment of a regional office in Western Australia, and the imminent opening of an office in New South Wales, will support its physical presence on the west and east coasts of Australia to streamline stakeholder engagement across the nation. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]