- Educator Professional Development Day strengthens defence industry career opportunities for WA students
- Curated to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education content within a defence context
- Initiative strengthens workforce capability for Western Australia's growing defence sector
- Cook Labor Government developing a skilled and productive workforce
The Cook Labor Government is equipping educators with the tools to guide the next generation into the defence industry workforce, through the Educator Professional Development Day at the Indian Ocean Defence and Security (IODS) event today.
This fullday program brings together teachers, vocational and training coordinators, career practitioners, and education leaders to explore emerging career opportunities across the defence and national security sectors.
Participants will engage directly with industry experts, take part in handson workshops, and access practical resources to better support students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), trades, and advancedtechnology fields.
A key feature of the program is the Inside the Student Career Mindset session - an interactive workshop using Lego to explore what drives students' career choices. Educators will build and share ideas to uncover the skills, motivations and barriers shaping student success in defence and defenceindustry pathways, gaining valuable insight into student perspectives while highlighting critical capabilities such as problemsolving, teamwork and resilience.
Another highlight is the Effective STEM Partnerships Workshop, delivered by Questacon - Australia's national science and technology centre. This session challenges participants with a STEM problem within a defencestrategy context, to demonstrate how industry expertise can support realworld STEM learning and strengthen schoolindustry collaboration.
The Building the Future Workforce panel session will examine how WA is developing its defence and security workforce in line with national priorities, including discussions on key career pathways, workforce needs, and indemand STEM skills.
This initiative forms part of the broader IODS Careers Program, which supports workforce development and positions Western Australia to meet national defence priorities, including submarine capability and advanced manufacturing.
As stated by Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia:
"Western Australia's defence industry pipeline starts in the classroom, and educators play a critical role in helping young people understand the opportunities available to them.
"This program gives teachers and career practitioners direct exposure to the industries, technologies and skills shaping Australia's future defence workforce.
"We know major defence projects will need thousands of skilled workers across advanced manufacturing, engineering, cyber, trades and STEM fields, and WA is well placed to help meet that demand.
"By strengthening the connection between industry and education, we are helping ensure more young Western Australians can see a future for themselves in these high-value, high-skilled careers."
As stated by Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"WA's defence industry is creating exciting new career pathways, and it is important students see the opportunities available across the sector.
"Teachers and career practitioners are often the first people young people turn to for guidance about their future, so giving educators stronger links to industry is incredibly valuable.
"This initiative will help build awareness of the skills and training pathways that lead to rewarding careers in advanced manufacturing, defence industries and emerging technologies.
"Programs like this are an important part of ensuring Western Australians have the skills needed to support the State's future workforce demands."
