Find your career for life in the Defence industry
South Australia’s defence industry is one of the state’s fastest growing sectors, offering lifelong opportunities across a range of exciting and varied careers.
Think space, systems and cyber, and shipbuilding; the defence industry has it all.
In the coming years, South Australia will be home to $90 billion in continuous naval shipbuilding projects. With a lifespan of more than 50 years, creating more than 4000 direct jobs and thousands of additional jobs in adjacent and support industries, there is no better place to start your career.
When it comes to systems and cyber, the defence industry is delivering solutions for major Defence projects and intelligence including surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare capabilities housed at RAAF Base Edinburgh.
The state is also leading the way into the future with its growing space industry. South Australia is home to more than 80 space companies, as well as the Australian Space Agency, Australian Space Discovery Centre and Mission Control Centre and the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex and Koonibba Test Range which are Australia’s first two licenced space launch facilities.
What kind of careers are in the defence industry?
You don’t have to work in the Army, Navy or Air Force to be part of the action, but you can still work in an industry that contributes to the safety of our nation.
Starting now and moving into the future, the defence industry offers a wide range of exciting careers in everything from project management to combat systems engineering, contracts management, Information Technology, work health and safety, marketing and communications and logistics. There’s much more to the defence industry than you might think.
How can you get there?
Whether you’re at school, or about to finish school, there are a wide range of study options and career pathways you can take to reach the career you want, and all in an industry you’ll love.
South Australia’s three globally recognised universities, The University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of South Australia are a great place to start when it comes to getting the qualifications you need.
You don’t have to go to university to get involved. South Australia’s VET sector – including TAFE SA – have developed specific defence industry courses, so there are plenty of options depending on your preferences.
Skilling South Australia is also a great place to start and is helping more people attain the skills and qualifications to build lasting careers and meet the needs of industry with a long list of subsidised training courses and apprenticeship programs.
Meet someone in the industry
Growing up tinkering with computers, Kyal’s love for designing video games and computer programming led him to undertake a double degree in media arts and computer science. He now works as a Digital Specialist with BAE Systems Maritime Australia.
In his current role, Kyal works on 3D visualisation, software programming and 3D modelling for the biggest surface shipbuilding project in Australia’s defence history.
“My career has since seen me work for universities, private industry and over the last decade, the defence industry,” he said.
“The skills I’ve honed are becoming increasingly important, particularly in the highly complex defence industry, where everything is digitised, all our design is three dimensional and everything needs to be interconnected and trackable to maintain our competitive edge.”
View Kyal’s story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K6ZBBIgZno
There has never been a better time to consider a career in one of South Australia’s fastest growing industries.
Start your journey to find your place in South Australia’s defence industry. Visit www.findyourplacesa.com today.
