Engineers Australia has welcomed the release of the Government’s largest naval shipbuilding plan and its acknowledgement that engineers will play a critical role in its success.
The association’s Defence Spokesman Greg Walters says the huge expansion of the Navy’s fleet and massive infrastructure upgrades will revitalise the nation’s engineering capability.
‘We would highlight it’s not just about the trade jobs and physical construction of the fleet but a sustainable long term building development program where engineers will play a crucial role at both the start of production in design - through delivery and beyond.
‘Engineers Australia has long argued that defence manufacturing plays a critical role in driving our domestic manufacturing industry and we would welcome working with Government on its strategic workforce plan around this,’ Mr Walters said.
Mr Walters said the plan will create a strong local pipeline of STEM (science, technology engineering and maths) jobs for decades.
Engineers Australia would support a renewed STEM push in schools to encourage more students to take up the subjects because of this. Targeting schools, women and interstate workers will be vitally important to filling these new roles.
The association believes the plan should also give confidence to the higher education sector that the Government is investing in a strong local STEM workforce.
The Naval Shipbuilding Plan outlines more than $1 billion in infrastructure upgrades at Adelaide’s Osborne shipbuilding facilities and WA's Henderson shipyards, with construction slated to begin on Australia's Future Frigates by 2020.
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