Flinders University has partnered with defence industry primes ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems Australia to welcome a cohort of degree apprentices in South Australia from early 2025.
The South Australian Skills Commission has formally declared the degree apprenticeship pathway for mechanical engineering, which will be tailored to support students into promising defence industry careers.
It allows students to undertake paid apprenticeships with global companies while still undertaking their university degree.
It means they can earn while they learn and get a head-start on the career into an in-demand sector.
ASC Pty Ltd Managing Director CEO Stuart Whiley said the program is a great opportunity for Young South Australians to earn while they learn in advanced technology jobs.
“As the Australian Government’s Sovereign Submarine Partner for nuclear powered submarine sustainment and joint partner the AUKUS SSN build, ASC Pty Ltd is proud to contribute to the expansion of the Degree Apprenticeships model in South Australia in partnership with Flinders University and BAE Systems Australia,” said Whiley.
“The SSN-AUKUS program is the biggest defence industrial undertaking in our history and requires the adoption of innovative education models for rapidly expanding and upskilling our engineering workforce.”
It follows a pilot Degree Apprenticeship program established with the University of South Australia.
This program commenced earlier this year with an initial cohort of 13 students combining a software engineering qualification with paid industry placements at host businesses like BAE Systems, ASC and Consunet.
New Degree Apprenticeship pilot programs will be supported by an additional $2.5 million in joint South Australian and Federal Government funding, as a key commitment of the SA Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Action Plan.
Over the next four years, eligible universities registered in South Australia can apply to establish and deliver degree apprenticeship pilot programs aligned to defence industry workforce needs.
Degree apprenticeships combine higher education degrees with paid industry experience, enabling students to secure their place in one of more than 11,000 defence industry roles required in South Australia over the next 20 years.
For more information visit statedevelopment.sa.gov.au(external site)