DEFENCE CONNECT: Commonwealth and WA governments team up for new TAFE Centre of Excellence – 29 January 2025.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, and Western Australia Premier Roger Cook have announced a formal partnership to establish the WA Defence TAFE Centre of Excellence. This initiative is intended to equip Australians with advanced skills which are needed to build and sustain critical national defence capabilities. The centre is intended to contribute to an industry which is expected to generate tens of billions of dollars in new defence capabilities and create thousands of well-paid, highly skilled jobs over the next two decades.

With a $14.6 million investment, Western Australians will gain hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing, preparing them for rewarding careers across the maritime, air, land, space and cyber security sectors. The centre will not only help workers upskill and secure high-tech roles but also ensure a steady pipeline of skilled professionals to support national defence. It also complements other major defence investments, including development of a new Defence precinct at Henderson, support for AUKUS submarine maintenance, the expansion of continuous naval shipbuilding and the establishment of Submarine Rotational Force – West at HMAS Stirling.

A range of specialised programs will be spearheaded by the centre, including:

• Women in Defence Industry Scholarship Program – Extended under the centre’s leadership, this six-month program provides WA women with training in electronics and engineering alongside experienced tradespeople.
• Defence Industry Pathways Program for school-based traineeships – Year 11 students will gain exposure to defence industry career pathways while working towards a Certificate III in defence industry pathways.
• University partnerships – The centre will collaborate with universities to explore higher-level apprenticeships with innovative curriculum and learning practices.

Operating through a network of four South Metropolitan TAFE campuses, the centre will also establish improved administrative processes, including a curriculum advisory group, a community of practice, and a robust governance framework.

HMAS Toowoomba about to be launched after an overhaul in W.A.