Boost to Australia's nuclear-powered submarine workforce
The Albanese Government is today announcing a new Jobs for Subs program for 200 young workers required to make Submarine Rotational Force - West (SRF-W) a success.
The Nuclear-Powered Submarine Graduate, Apprenticeship and Traineeship initiative is a Government-funded recruitment and upskilling program for graduates, apprentices and trainees within ASC Pty Ltd.
This initiative from the Albanese Government will allow the ASC Pty Ltd to recruit around 200 additional entry-level personnel over the next two years across high priority disciplines and trades essential to the nuclear-powered submarine enterprise, building the workforce we need in the west to sustain and maintain Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines.
These roles, predominantly in Western Australia, span fabrication and machining, engineering and project management, and supply chain and operations qualifications.
As Australia’s sovereign submarine partner for sustainment of our nuclear-powered submarines, ASC Pty Ltd plays a critical role in developing the required skills, workforce, knowledge and capability. This initiative seeks to enhance the ability to attract entry-level personnel to critical skills and career pathways, retain valued personnel at entry-levels and grow the workforce available across the Defence industry.
Already, the Albanese Government has committed to invest up to $8 billion in infrastructure to enable SFR-W from 2027 and to operate Australia’s own Virginia class conventionally armed, nuclear‑powered submarines from the early 2030s.
Across Australia, the nuclear-powered submarine program is expected to create around 20,000 highly skilled jobs for Australians for decades to come, including supporting around 3,000 jobs in the west alone.
Over the last two weeks, ASC Pty Ltd has been developing Australia’s sovereign sustainment workforce, in support of the Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period (SMTP) currently underway at HMAS Stirling.
The STMP is an important milestone in the pathway by which Australia will acquire a nuclear-powered submarine capability and is the first time Australian personnel have directly participated in the maintenance of a nuclear-powered submarine in Australia.
During the STMP, Royal Australian Navy personnel have been directly participating in maintenance work on USS Hawaii (SSN 776), a Virginia class submarine, at HMAS Stirling.
In addition, workers from ASC Pty Ltd are providing essential support services to USS Hawaii, and are observing maintenance activities to continue their learning.
During this STMP, no active radiological work is being conducted and no low level radiological material will leave the US ships.
Today’s announcement builds on the more than 4,000 additional Commonwealth supported university places the Albanese Government announced and the work we are doing with the states and territories to grow the skilled workforces we need.
The Albanese Government is investing in the workforce we need to deliver Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines and a future made in Australia.
