Defence has plugged a gap in the introduction of new intelligence capabilities with the formation of the Defence College of Intelligence and the Defence School of Intelligence - Canberra.
In the past, when new intelligence technologies or equipment were introduced, there was no joint training authority or school to ensure courses were adequately prepared for the workforce.
But that changed in January 2024 when the Defence College of Intelligence was established to provide joint intelligence courses as the first joint training authority - while also addressing increased demands on the intelligence workforce from the National Defence Strategy.
Along with the college as a headquarters and training authority, the Defence School of Intelligence - Canberra stood up in January 2025 to deliver that training to ADF personnel and Australian Public Servants.
One of the college's roles is to prevent new capabilities being underutilised due to a lack of awareness or training.
Defence personnel, APS and contract staff work from the college in Canberra to deliver training. So far they have transitioned, developed and implemented 35 courses and trained 684 people.
The college is filling training gaps with new courses, focusing on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance along with target intelligence - skills previously underdeveloped in the joint workforce.
The college is also responsible for reviewing and uplifting existing joint and common intelligence courses to meet the requirements of the joint force.
'As we grow in course options, services and groups need to identify our training for their respective workplace.'
Training systems specialist Lieutenant Commander Shaun Logan said rapid course development so far was the first step.
"We had to plug a gap and we had to plug it fast," Lieutenant Commander Logan said.
"Now that we have those courses underway, our next line of effort is to go back and verify."
The school is delivering training on site in Canberra, through mobile training teams and online via ADELE.
It also delivers training to international partners in Australia and abroad - during October staff will travel overseas to deliver training to the New Zealand Defence Force.
The college has formed a partnership with Charles Sturt University so intelligence personnel can receive recognition towards tertiary education, and will soon finalise a similar partnership with Macquarie University.
Lieutenant Commander Logan said many personnel were not yet aware of the new joint intelligence training authority and the courses currently offered.
"As we grow in course options, services and groups need to identify our training for their respective workplace," he said.
