More than 1000 SA university places for highly skilled nuclear submarine jobs

The chance to get in on one of the biggest opportunities in the state’s history is about to open up.

Highly skilled and lucrative jobs building nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide will be kickstarted by more than 1000 university places allocated for South Australia from next year.

Defence Minister Richard Marles on Wednesday will reveal 1030 Commonwealth-supported places for Adelaide and Flinders universities – 230 extra than forecast for SA in May’s federal budget and a quarter of the national total.

Up to 5500 direct jobs are forecast to be created by the $368bn nuclear-powered submarine construction program centred on Adelaide from the late 2020s – the biggest single upgrade to Australia’s defence capability in the nation’s history.

Mr Marles said the people building and maintaining the conventionally armed submarines under the AUKUS security pact would be “at the heart of this historic, nation-building project”.

“Nowhere will that be more important than in South Australia – the home of Australian nuclear-powered submarine construction” he said.

“AUKUS represents one of the most significant industrial endeavours in our country’s history and the Albanese Government is already investing in the young Australians who will make up our future workforce.

“It is critical we make the investments now to ensure we have the skilled workforce to deliver the nuclear-powered submarine program.”

The University of Adelaide tops the number of places, at 700, from the 16 universities across Australia, while Flinders has 330.

The Commonwealth-supported places apply to 38 science, technology, engineering and maths-related courses and are designed to develop the highly advanced technical skills needed for the mammoth nation-building project.

Defence Minister Richard Marles and Premier Peter Malinauskas at Osborne shipyard. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Melbourne’s RMIT University gets 426 places, while the universities of Wollongong and NSW get 425 and 340 respectively.

Mr Marles and Premier Peter Malinauskas on November 10 released a report detailing plans to boost SA’s defence personnel from 3500 to 8500 by the 2040, including by engaging tens of thousands of students across the state in a bid to drive up tertiary enrolments in science, technology, engineering and maths.

The May federal budget allocated $128m to fund an extra 4000 university places, of which 800 were earmarked for SA.

Navy chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond on November 7 told a Sydney defence forum that Australia’s maritime security would be anchored by the most advanced technology “known to humanity” – nuclear-powered submarines built in Adelaide and deployed by 2032.

But he said the public needed patience and more tradies and sailors to help make it a reality.

Originally published as More than 1000 SA university places for highly skilled nuclear submarine jobs