Media reports of a skills shortage facing Australia’s Navy are no different from the challenges facing industry and are an indication that long-term planning is critical to delivering Australia’s Future Submarines, as well as other significant shipbuilding programs over the coming decades.
“Concerns around skills shortages within Navy are a matter for Navy, but the same shortages exist within industry and reinforce the importance of a long-term, national shipbuilding plan, including a national skilling strategy, to make sure both industry and Defence are well positioned to deliver the best possible capabilities for Australia’s Defence Force,” said Kerryn Smith, Acting CEO of the Defence Teaming Centre.
“The Future Submarine program is a national endeavour and the challenges associated with workforce development require a whole of nation solution.
“Years of uncertainty and a project-by-project approach to Defence acquisitions have challenged industry and we now face the test of having to expand our workforce in a very short space of time.
“This is not a challenge that can be addressed by any one state alone, it will take national cooperation, collaboration and planning between Defence, industry, academia and governments at all levels.
“Building up and, more importantly, maintaining skills is critical to the success of all shipbuilding programs.
“The Future Submarine Program is critical to Australia’s defence and security strategy and will deliver key capabilities to the Defence Force. It also presents a key opportunity for Australia to examine its approach to shipbuilding and develop an industrial base capable of not only delivering regionally superior capability to the Defence Force, but underpinning Australia’s future prosperity.
“To make sure local industry can not only build, but maintain its skills, there must be a national approach to planning.
“Without a long-term, national plan and skilling strategy across all naval shipbuilding programs, we will continue to see workforces dissipate at the conclusion of one project, only to be ramped up at the beginning of another. This approach results in a costly loss of skills, knowledge and experience that is entirely avoidable with proper, long-term planning.
“We have incredible skills and expertise right here in Australia – and enormous potential to further develop our capabilities – but as we turn our attention to delivering these programs, we must look closely at how to address potential skills and knowledge gaps in the years to come.
“This is a pivotal time for Australia’s defence industry. And it is clear that with strategic long-term planning and investment industry will be in the best position to deliver,” said Ms Smith.
