By Leo D’Angelo Fisher
Top stories:
Program to attract WA school leavers to defence industry
$360 million Irwin Barracks redevelopment
$16 million infrastructure upgrade for Hobart’s Derwent Barracks
Program to attract WA school leavers to defence industry
West Australian high school graduates will have access to a fully funded, 12-month traineeship aimed at developing the state’s maritime defence industry workforce.
The $10 million Defence Industry Pathway Program, developed by the Department of Defence, WA’s South Metropolitan TAFE and the state’s maritime defence industry, will support 120 students by mid-2022.
The pilot program, which begins in July, will take place in and around the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson.
The federal government will contribute $45,000 for each trainee to fund their wages, on-costs, a laptop, safety kit and uniform.
“This program is designed to build a pipeline of talent that is ready to be part of Australia’s booming shipbuilding industry,” says Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price.
“With the increasing demand for workers in the shipbuilding industry in WA, the maritime defence industry needs to grow its workforce. We must attract and retain the next generation of designers, engineers, scientists and technical tradespeople to our industry.”
The Defence Industry Pathways Program is open to WA school leavers who have completed Year 12. If successful, the program will be adopted nationally.
$360 million Irwin Barracks redevelopment
West Australian construction company Doric Contractors will manage the $360.5 million redevelopment of Irwin Barracks in the Perth suburb of Karrakatta.
The infrastructure upgrades will include refurbished cadet, recreation, headquarters and training facilities, live-in and office accommodation, and workshops.
Work on the redevelopment of the 62ha Army base is expected to commence in 2023 with construction completed in 2026.
$16 million infrastructure upgrade for Hobart’s Derwent Barracks
The Department of Defence will spend $16 million on the construction of vehicle workshops, hardstands and shelters at the Derwent Barracks in Hobart as part of the modernisation of the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force vehicle fleet.
Lendlease will deliver the facilities and infrastructure to house and maintain the new fleet of trucks and trailers being procured for the Australian Defence Force under the LAND 121 Vehicle Acquisition Program.
The project expects a peak workforce of 40 people per day during the 16-month construction period.
Work on the Derwent Barracks is expected to be completed by late 2022.
Leo D'Angelo Fisher is a regular columnist and Editor-at-Large at Australian Veteran News. Connect with him on Twitter: @DAngeloFisher.
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