Industry OverviewDefence - Western Australia’s defence presence, which includes HMAS Stirling, RAAF Base Pearce and Campbell Barracks, is well established. Over 7,800 Defence personnel operate in Western Australia including Navy, Army, Air Force, civilian and Reservists. This number is forecast to grow over the coming years. The largest number of personnel are based at HMAS Stirling – Garden Island, with the activities there also involving the greatest Defence Industries support. HMAS Stirling has emerged as the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) major fleet base on the Indian Ocean with up to half of the RAN’s fleet based permanently in Western Australia, including all six of the Collins-class submarines.
The West Australian defence industry provides essential capability, services and support to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with more than 3,000 workers employed by both small and medium enterprises operating in this sector. Defence Industries refers to those organisations who are providing or have capacity to provide defence specific or dual use goods or services to the ADF. Veterans - A veteran is a person who has served in the Defence Forces and is no longer serving. It is estimated that in Western Australia there are more than 30,000 veterans, with another 350 to 450 defence personnel leaving the force each year. Approximately half of new veterans already have jobs to go to, but due to a variety of reasons, the other half may not. It is also not known if those that have jobs are undertaking roles that reflect their skills. The LDSC is working with Defence West and other key stakeholders to assist in developing a mapping mechanism to match existing Defence personnel skills and experience against civilian job roles and qualifications. |
Licensing RequirementsThere are no specific licencing requirements to join the Australian Defence Force. However, depending on the role undertaken and the recruitment stream joined (i.e. Navy, Airforce or Army) you may need a licence to operate and use transport vehicles or machinery (for example a Helicopter, Forklifts, Heavy Rigid Trucks etc). Visit the Australian Defence Force (ADF) website for more information on these requirements or visit the LDSC industry profiles page for more information on the licencing requirements per industry sector (i.e. Aviation, Rail, Road Transport, Warehousing and Logistics, Maritime, Ports and Stevedoring and Wholesaling).
|
Occupations / Skills in DemandThere are approximately 850 Defence personnel which forms the Naval submarine workforce nationally. The introduction of Australia’s future Attack-class submarines will require this workforce to more than double across the next two decades.
Within Defence Industries the following occupations are in demand:
For more information go to the Defence and Defence Industries Industry Reports for further details on these occupations and how you can begin a career in this sector or follow the links to the Australian Defence Force Recruiting website. If you have queries regarding specific occupations or if you feel an occupation in your industry in not on the State Priority Occupation List (SPOL) please contact us. Training Councils are the first point of contact for feedback regarding this list. |
Defence and Defence Industries - Industry Profiles
The LDSC also provides strategic advice to industry, government and other key stakeholders on workforce development issues such as occupational priorities or shortages per industry area, training or upskilling requirements and other industry intelligence of factors influencing skilling needs within Western Australia. To access these, please click on the links below:
Industry Profiles
Industry Infographics
For historic information contact us
Defence Industries Training PackageThe training package for Defence Industries will depend upon which industry sector is providing the service. For Defence related matters there are several Skills Service Organisations (SSOs) which have coverage over certain aspects of Defence.
Australian Industry Standards (AIS) is the SSO with responsibility for the Public Safety Training Package which covers the relevant Defence qualifications. In addition, you can also follow the links on their website to find more information regarding their Transport and Logistics Industry Outlook and Transport and Logistics Transport Industry Snapshots released annually. Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) Skills for Australia is the SSO for the Naval Shipbuilding Sector and represents the Naval Shipbuilding Industry Reference Committee (IRC). You can follow the links on their website to access Industry Skills Forecasts and proposed Schedule of Work and latest industry news. To ensure feedback from WA stakeholders has been included, the LDSC regularly provides advice and recommendations to the AIS and PwC Skills for Australia on the development of Training Package materials as well as the development of other industry related materials such as Industry and Skills Forecasts. Please contact the LDSC if you would like to provide feedback or be involved in these consultations. |
How Can I Begin a Career in Defence Industries?Visit the Defence or Defence Industries Industry Profile section above, for more information on the careers and skills in demand within this sector.
|
