More than 800 students across Australia have been selected as part of the inaugural cohort of scholars for the Propel: Australian Submarine Scholarship program(Opens in a new tab/window) .
Launched today,(Opens in a new tab/window) the $15.8 million initiative is supporting the development of Australia's future nuclear‑powered submarine workforce and will award 3,000 scholarships over the next three years to students undertaking tertiary studies in priority STEM disciplines.
Propel is being delivered through a partnership between the ASA and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) to help build the highly skilled workforce needed to deliver and sustain Australia's nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership.
ASA, Head Engineering and Technology, Bruce Easterson, said the launch of Propel reflects the scale of Australia's long‑term commitment to developing the workforce required for one of the nation's most complex industrial endeavours.
'AUKUS represents one of the most significant industrial programs in Australia's history, and its success relies on thousands of people gaining the specialist technical skills needed to build, operate and sustain nuclear‑powered submarines,' said Mr Easterson.
'Propel will help Australians access the education and experience required to step into these roles. This investment strengthens Australia's future STEM workforce and supports the defence industry capabilities our nation needs.'
Mr Easterson also congratulated the first cohort of scholarship recipients.
'Congratulations to the inaugural Propel scholars. AUKUS is an uplift, a whole of nation effort. Propel provides an opportunity for Australia to have a greater pool of experts to draw from to support this endeavour. We are dependent on you as future leaders to help us with this important task, and I wish you good luck on your journey.'
Australia's nuclear‑powered submarine program is expected to create around 20,000 highly skilled jobs nationwide over the coming decades. Propel will help ensure the talent pipeline is ready to meet this demand and support the broader AUKUS alliance.
ATSE Chief Executive Officer, Professor Kylie Walker AM, said the Academy is proud to welcome the first group of scholars and support them as they build foundations for long and rewarding STEM careers.
'Propel is more than a financial scholarship-it opens doors to a national community of researchers, engineers and innovators,' said Ms Walker.
'Our scholars will have opportunities to connect with leaders across industry, government and universities, and to learn directly from ATSE Fellows who are among Australia's most accomplished scientists and engineers.
'These experiences will help prepare students for the critical roles they may one day play in delivering and sustaining Australia's nuclear‑powered submarines, and the important role they play more broadly in building Australia's STEM future.'
Propel aligns with the Australian Government's broader investment to expand Australia's STEM‑qualified workforce for the nuclear‑powered submarine enterprise, including the Nuclear‑Powered Submarine Student Pathways program, the ASA Nuclear Graduate Program, and national workforce initiatives delivered through the Skills and Training Academy.
