Submarine apprenticeships on offer for young West Australians in AUKUS deal

Young West Australians will be given an exclusive chance to learn how to build and look after Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines with 200 spots on offer in a new training program. The “jobs for subs” program will offer graduate, apprentice and trainee positions with the Government’s shipbuilder ASC, based at HMAS Stirling. Those who get the entry-level positions will be trained in high-priority trades including span fabrication and machining, engineering, project management, and supply chain and operations qualifications. They will work initially with the rotating force of US and UK submarines that will be based at Garden Island from 2027, known as SRF-West. The AUKUS program reached another milestone this past week with Australian workers carrying out maintenance on the visiting American Virginia-class submarine, the USS Hawaii — the first time foreigners have been allowed to do the vital work. Admiral William Houston, director of the US Navy’s nuclear propulsion program, described it as a “huge step” in validating the decision to pursue the AUKUS pathway. Overall, the nuclear-powered submarine program is expected to create 20,000 highly skilled jobs in Australia, including 3000 in WA. Defence has acknowledged recruiting so many people is a challenge, especially in a tight jobs market. But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the jobs for subs program was a significant step to get that recruitment started. “This new nuclear-powered submarine graduate, apprentice and trainee initiative is an incredible opportunity for young people here,” he said. “We want to keep Australians safe. That’s why WA will play a key role in building AUKUS. This will help promote peace and deterrence in the region and support local jobs.” Other groups of workers are being sent overseas for training, with the first cohort of about 30 Australians now learning how to sustain submarines at the Pearl Harbour base. This will grow to 130 by the end of the year and an extra 100 will be sent each year. On top of this, Australian sailors will make up about one in 10 of the crews aboard America’s Virginia-class submarines as more graduate from the US submariner schools. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said Australian industry was integral to the AUKUS plan, and ultimately training more skilled workers would benefit the nation as a whole. “We are seeing real progress being made to develop the workforce of thousands of highly-skilled scientists, engineers, project managers, operators, technicians, welders, construction workers, electricians, metal fitters and builders that will be needed to support this nation-building endeavour,” he said.