Key points:
- Australia's quantum future will require a multidisciplinary 'quantum-ready' workforce extending beyond physicists and software engineers.
- The new report recommends flexible education pathways, cross-sector upskilling and stronger collaboration between research, industry, government and education providers.
- Researchers have developed 12 recommendations to support Australia's long-term quantum workforce capability, innovation ecosystem and public preparedness.
- Recommendations are built on insights from a co-design workshop that brought together 26 quantum technology-related stakeholders, and ethnographic interviews.
A new report, from Monash University's emerging technologies researchers, has outlined possible futures for critical sectors shaped by quantum technology and recommended pathways to get Australia 'quantum-ready' through upskilling and collaboration across research, engineering, entrepreneurship, policy and communication.
The Quantum Future Workforce report draws on ethnographic interviews, documentary research and a co-design workshop involving quantum researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and industry representatives.
The study was led by researchers from Monash University's Emerging Technologies Research Lab - an initiative across Monash Art, Design and Architecture (MADA) and the Faculty of Information Technology - in collaboration with Quantum Australia.
The research explored how quantum technologies could shape future critical sectors, including wearable health monitoring through quantum sensing, quantum-resistant cybersecurity systems, secure quantum communications networks, low-energy quantum materials, and quantum-enabled infrastructure supporting transport, utilities and city systems.
The report outlined 12 recommendations to support Australia's quantum future, including building a multidisciplinary workforce, improving public awareness of quantum technologies, supporting commercialisation and start-ups, strengthening manufacturing capability, engaging policymakers, and developing a more connected national quantum ecosystem.
Lead author and human-centred design expert Associate Professor Leah Heiss said the project brought together voices from across Australia's emerging quantum ecosystem to collectively imagine future workforce and societal needs.
"The workshop brought researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and industry representatives into the same room to work through possible quantum futures together," Associate Professor Heiss said.
"Rather than looking only at the technology itself, participants mapped the real-world systems, industries and people that would need to support those futures, from healthcare and cybersecurity to infrastructure and communications.
"This co-design process helped uncover challenges and opportunities that may not emerge through traditional technology planning alone, particularly around collaboration between sectors, workforce readiness and long-term social impacts."
Co-author of the report and Emerging Technologies Research Lab Director Professor Sarah Pink said the research highlighted the growing need for a multidisciplinary and hybrid workforce as quantum technologies evolve across sectors.
"Our research shows the future quantum workforce will not be confined to traditional scientific or technical roles," Professor Pink said.
"Building a quantum-ready future will depend on creating a workforce with the ability to translate between disciplines, collaborate across sectors and connect technical innovation with real-world applications."
Co-author of the report, digital and design anthropology researcher at the Emerging Technologies Research Lab, Dr Debora Lanzeni said the findings reinforced the importance of creating more flexible and connected education pathways as the sector evolves.
"One of the strongest findings was that the future quantum workforce will extend well beyond specialist physicists or software developers," Dr Lanzeni said.
"The report recommends more flexible education and training pathways including short courses, professional conversion programs and cross-sector upskilling opportunities, alongside earlier engagement with schools and universities to develop foundational quantum literacy and help build long-term workforce capability."
Building on this report the researchers collaborated with Quantum Australia to deliver the Designing Quantum Futures workshop during Melbourne Design Week on 20 May.
Quantum Australia Partnership Development Manager, Mr Adrian Gertler highlighted the importance of collaborating with researchers to ensure the development of human-centred quantum futures.
"Quantum Australia plays a key role in leading the conversation on how quantum technologies will transform our society. This transition will have profound workforce implications, and ensuring that government, industry, and education systems are aligned and prepared is paramount," Mr Gertler said.
"Collaborating with Monash University on the Quantum Futures workshop delivered real value and contributed directly to this objective. We are excited to continue building our partnership to advance Australia's quantum workforce agenda."
Looking to the future, the academics will be undertaking research into Quantum Energy Futures with the Monash Energy Institute, in collaboration with Quantum Australia, to understand how quantum technologies can support a resilient energy system.
The research was supported by support from the Monash Art, Design and Architecture Industry Seed Funding.
The authors of the report, Associate Professor Leah Heiss, Dr Debora Lanzeni and Professor Sarah Pink are
