South Australia will lead the charge as the first state to formally introduce a Degree Apprenticeship program for mechanical engineering, paving the way to a promising career in the defence industry.

The South Australian Skills Commission has formally declared the innovative educational pathway which provides students with the opportunity to ‘earn while they learn’ and follows the launch of a pilot Degree Apprenticeship program in software engineering.

Flinders University has partnered with Adelaide-based Defence industry primes ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems Australia to launch the landmark Higher Education Trade Degree Apprenticeship in Engineering, welcoming apprentices from early 2025.

Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling applauded the introduction of the program, adding that it would enable student apprentices to enter the workforce with degree level qualifications and practical skills.

“It will support jobs growth by tackling pressing skills shortages and be a blueprint for a new generation of engineering studies nationally,” he said.

The program will champion the state’s objective of securing more than 11,000 jobs over the next two decades, a shared ambition supported by both BAE Systems and ASC.

“Our national workforce of more than 6,300 is growing. We are working closely with the South Australian Government and our education partners on innovative approaches to meet our workforce needs,” said BAE Systems Australia Chief People Officer Angela Wiggins.

“Of the 2,600 engineers we employ, more than 370 are mechanical engineers. When they graduate, these apprentices will have experience and a degree in a high demand skill area.”

ASC CEO and Managing Director Stuart Whiley echoed the sentiment in the lead up to the SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program.

“The SSN-AUKUS program is the biggest defence industrial undertaking in our history and requires the adoption of innovative education models for rapidly expanding and upskilling our engineering workforce.”

New Degree Apprenticeship pilot programs will be supported by an additional $2.5 million in joint South Australian and Federal Government funding, as a key commitment of the SA Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Action Plan.

Over the next four years, eligible universities registered in South Australia can apply to establish and deliver degree apprenticeship pilot programs aligned to defence industry workforce needs.

Read the full media release.