Two young Navy officers are proving that innovation and engineering excellence go hand-in-hand, thanks to the support of the Navy's Centre for Innovation - South (CFI-S).
Sub-Lieutenants Sarah Battenally and Louis Von Richter, both studying at the Engineering Officer Application Course (EOAC), are leading the charge in developing practical, low-cost solutions for real-world Navy challenges - designs that are already making an impact in training environments.
Sub-Lieutenant Battenally's journey is as inspiring as her ingenuity.
Formerly a technical sailor, she was the first Navy sailor supported to undertake a mechatronics and robotics degree at the University of Technology Sydney.
After commissioning as an officer, she quickly applied her skills to developing an overhead camera system for Marine Technician-Propulsion (MT-P) classrooms.
"The commercial option we were using was effective, but at $7000 per unit, it wasn't sustainable," Sub-Lieutenant Battenally said.
"So I started thinking, how could we deliver the same functionality for less?"
Working closely with CFI-S, Technical Training Authority - Engineering (TA-ENG), and Wodonga TAFE's manager of innovation, Sub-Lieutenant Battenally delivered a purpose-built camera system that met Defence Digital Group requirements and cost less than $10 per unit to produce.
"I'm proud we've created something that enhances training and saves money," she said.
"Being empowered to innovate within Navy is incredibly motivating. There's so much potential for change when people believe in your ideas."
Sub-Lieutenant Von Richter, a fellow EOAC student, also identified a pressing need within the MT workshop at HMAS Cerberus - dynamic noise hazard signage to improve awareness and safety during fluctuating training conditions.
'Commercial solutions were expensive and didn't meet the necessary compliance.'
"Noise levels were constantly shifting depending on what training was happening," he said.
"We needed a way to visually and audibly alert staff and trainees when PPE requirements changed."
Sub-Lieutenant Von Richter collaborated with CFI-S and drew on their coding expertise to create a dynamic noise hazard sign using off-the-shelf components.
The system connects to any monitor, displays real-time noise levels, and includes a strobe light and audible tone to signal changes in hearing protection requirements.
"The system meets Australian Standards and costs under $150 to build," Sub-Lieutenant Von Richter said.
"Commercial solutions were expensive and didn't meet the necessary compliance.
"This project showed how quickly we can prototype and deploy when given the right tools and trust."
Both officers credit the Navy's innovation ecosystem for their success.
"CFI-S gave us access to equipment, mentorship and, most importantly, belief," Sub-Lieutenant Battenally said.
"They didn't just support the idea, they helped us make it real."
Rear Admiral Rachel Durbin, who observed demonstrations of both projects during a recent visit to HMAS Cerberus, praised the officers' ingenuity and commitment.
With projects like these now being considered for broader rollout, Sub-Lieutenants Battenally and Von Richter have set a new benchmark for what is possible when innovation is embedded in training.
"We're just getting started," Sub-Lieutenant Von Richter said.
"Things don't need to be complicated, they just need to work."
