Curtin University pioneering Australia’s future in defence, national security and space

Curtin has built an exceptional reputation for innovation through cutting-edge research.This success is now being extended to address critical national resilience and security needs.

Staff from the Future of Work Institute at Curtin University stand on submarine HMAS Sheean at Fleet Base West in WA.

The release of Australia’s Defence Strategic Review (DSR) and Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS) highlights the critical need for a comprehensive approach to national resilience. These strategies encompass more than just military and industrial capabilities; they call for the active participation of academia to push the boundaries of knowledge, improve operational capabilities and spearhead the development of advanced sovereign capabilities.

Such initiatives not only bolster defence capabilities but also spur economic growth and strengthen Australia’s global standing. Central to these efforts is the focus on people and addressing the evolving needs of Australia’s future workforce. Western Australia, with Curtin University at the forefront, has embraced this holistic approach, aiming to integrate academic expertise into Australia’s sovereign defence industry.

Over decades Curtin has built an exceptional reputation for innovation through cutting-edge research and has played a vital role in fuelling successful cross-sector innovation and technology transfer across mining, energy, critical minerals, health, agriculture, astronomy, space and maritime. This success in innovation is now being extended to address critical national resilience and security needs.

The establishment of the National Resilience and Security (NRAS) Program Office at Curtin University marks a significant commitment to defence and the broader sovereign defence, national security and space industry. NRAS aims to consolidate Curtin’s defence collaborations, creating a centralised hub responsive to Australia’s defence challenges, including technological innovation and workforce development. This initiative emphasises secure, collaborative programs of national and international importance, including fostering international partnerships, especially around AUKUS.

Gary Hale.

The 2024 Australian Universities Accord and the DIDS underline the importance of a dynamic defence industry supported by targeted initiatives such as the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities, the needs for AUKUS Pillar 1 and 2, and the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA). Curtin’s expertise in areas such as autonomous systems, sensor systems, undersea technologies, advanced materials, human factors, signal processing and artificial intelligence, aligns with these priorities and provide the foundation for our contribution to the defence innovation ecosystem.

The development of Australia’s sovereign defence industrial base is contingent upon its workforce. Curtin is spearheading an integrated strategy to build defence capabilities locally and nationally, in collaboration with South Metropolitan TAFE and other WA universities. We already partner with Babcock and HII under the AUKUS Workforce Alliance (AWA) and will be expanding our research partnerships with BAE Systems and ASC to lead the AUKUS workforce development in WA. The aim of these partnerships is to cultivate a skilled workforce to support Australia’s transition to sovereign nuclear-powered submarines, prom-ising significant economic contri-butions and job creation. And this is just the start.

Looking ahead, Defence Collaboration Hubs will adopt a holistic approach to strengthen national resilience, serving as focal points for collaboration among academia, industry, government and the community. This concerted effort will ensure that Australia remains secure, prosperous and resilient amid a complex geostrategic environment.

Through the NRAS, Curtin is set to leverage its interdisciplinary expertise and strategic partnerships to actively help shape the narratives of defence, national security and space in both Australia and WA, while also contributing to the nation’s economic prosperity.

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Gary Hale is director of the National Resilience and Security Program Office at Curtin University.