Scramble to find 10,000 workers to build our nuclear submarines

The nation has just 15 years to find the talent it needs to meet “one of the greatest national endeavours of the Australian story”. Find out what the jobs pay in every state.

Australian defence industry companies are scrambling to hire more than 10,000 skilled workers over the next 15 years to build the most complex submarines, warships and firepower to help defend the nation in a rapidly deteriorating strategic environment.

Sluggish participation in science, technology and maths subjects in our high schools has all levels of government and the entire defence industry on high alert, with a dire skills shortage cited as the greatest risk to Australia’s defensive efforts.

Overcoming the skills gap to build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines on home shores has been labelled by Defence Minister Richard Marles “one of the greatest national endeavours of the Australian story”.

With war erupting in Ukraine and China jostling for power in the Indo-Pacific region, the normal 10-year warning period for armed conflict has evaporated – meaning Australia is in a race against the clock to forge a strategy.

In response to the rising challenges, News Corp Australia has launched the ‘Defending Australia’ campaign, highlighting the opportunities for young people to step up and help defend the country’s national interest by working in highly skilled, lucrative jobs of the future. The heads of some of the country’s biggest defence companies will gather at the University of Adelaide for a crucial event on Friday.

WATCH LIVE FROM 3.30PM (ACDT): Defending Australia panel discussion in Adelaide with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, following an address by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

From Covid-induced isolation in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will address the forum, which will include an audience of nearly 100 of Australia’s brightest young minds from high schools and universities.

The audience includes ambitious STEM students who are ready to respond to the challenges ahead.

Defence student Aastha Kumar Picture: Supplied

Defence student Jordan Blanksby Picture: Supplied

Jordan Blanksby, 17, wants to “contribute to the safety of the country through scientific developments”.

Aastha Kumar, 17, feels an overwhelming “sense of social responsibility” to help defend the country by combining her passion for STEM and humanitarianism.

Establishing an entirely new industry to support the top-secret and complex nuclear technology provided by the US under the AUKUS security pact is emerging as Australia’s most daunting and urgent challenge.

With no existing nuclear defence industry, Australia must source thousands of already trained workers.

BAE Systems Australia managing director Craig Lockhart said young Australians had a “30-year runway in front of them” to work on exciting opportunities.

“They can have a long-term career and probably an international one if they want it,” Mr Lockhart said.

He welcomed the state and federal government’s combined national workforce and skills taskforce but said it was “time for the rubber to hit the road”.

“We need everyone to understand the critical importance of the current and future defence programs that underpin Australia’s defence and national security,” Mr Lockhart said.

Two halves of the first of class ship, Arafura, built by Luerssen Australia and its partner ASC have been brought together and welded to form a complete hull. In what was the largest block move in the history of the Osborne Naval Shipyard and a considerable engineering feat, Australian Naval Infrastructure’s (ANI) operations team manoeuvred the two mega-blocks together, with only millimetres between them. Picture: ADF

Babcock Australasia chief executive David Ruff. Picture: Supplied by Babcock

KHA Defence Solutions chief executive Graeme Hunter

Babcock Australasia chief executive David Ruff said there had “never been a more exciting time” to launch a defence industry career.

“The coming years are a landmark time for our nation, our defence industry and those who choose a defence career, whether in uniform, will play an important role in … keeping our region safe,” Mr Ruff said.

Defence SA CEO Richard Price said the growing defence sector would make the country become a global manufacturing powerhouse.

“I believe that Australia needs to have a better balanced economy,” he said. KHA Defence Solutions chief executive Graeme Hunter said the ‘Defending Australia’ campaign had generated awareness of issues and opportunities.

“Australia’s defence industry is in the midst of a generational shift – there are multiple projects on the horizon and the AUKUS security alliance is part of that,” Mr Hunter said.

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