The new academy will be co-located alongside the site of the new nuclear-powered submarine shipyard (right), and the existing Osborne shipyard (centre). Photo: SA Govt.
The construction of the naval shipbuilding Skills and Training Academy has commenced at Osborne in Adelaide.
The academy is designed to build a skilled workforce in time for the construction of a new shipyard and several new nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy from the early 2030s.
The site was chosen due to its proximity to the Osborne shipyards and was announced in 2023 to deliver the high-tech education and training needed for continuous naval shipbuilding and the AUKUS Pillar 1 submarines in South Australia.
Ground works commenced at the site for the new campus at a ceremony on 5 March. The project will be designed and delivered by Australian Naval Infrastructure (ANI). Kellogg, Brown and Root, and Architectus will be supported by Australia’s submarine build partners – BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd – to draw upon their experience to ensure training aligns with industry requirements.
The government says that, at its peak, up to 4000 workers will be employed to design and build the infrastructure for the submarine shipyard, while a further 4000‑5500 direct jobs will be created to build the submarines.
The campus will simulate the submarine construction yard, providing hands‑on skills and classroom-based learning, and will also include trade workshops, classrooms and a large central submarine mock-up area. The courses and skills will also support the workforce required to deliver the navy’s six Hunter-class frigates – the first of which is currently being built.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said South Australia’s industry would deliver billions of dollars in defence capabilities and thousands of skilled jobs, with the Skills and Training Academy Campus at Osborne being at the centre of this work.
Head of the Australian Submarine Agency VADM Jonathan Mead (with cap), Defence Minister Richard Marles (third from right), and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas (second from right) turn the ceremonial first sod for the skills & training academy. Photo: Richard Marles LinkedIn.
“As the training ground for our AUKUS submarines and shipbuilding workforce, this $480 million investment from the Albanese Government is about ensuring we have the skills for a future made in Australia,” he said.
“This isn’t just an investment in bricks and mortar – it is also an investment in generations of Australian workers who will be building our submarines, making their contribution to defending our nation and building a career for themselves as part of a future made in Australia.”
Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas said the development of the skills needed to deliver the nuclear-powered submarines was both the biggest opportunity, and biggest risk of AUKUS.
“This is an incredible opportunity for young South Australians to learn highly technical hands-on skills which will lead them into high quality careers that will last for lifetimes,” he said.
“We’ve seen at Barrow-in-Furness in the UK just how successfully a Skills and Training Academy can operate, and we’ll need to replicate that effort here.
Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy said the Federal Government was building world-class shipyards and delivering on continuous shipbuilding that would create thousands of well-paid jobs for decades to come.
“This initiative is critical if we are to have the workforce required to deliver the capabilities needed to safeguard the nation,” he said.
“This about making Australians safer while providing financial security for thousands of South Australians.”
