First intake of apprentices for Hunter Class Frigate Program

Joint media release

  • Minister for Trade, Tourism & Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham

Amid a surging interest in shipbuilding careers, the first intake of apprentices from South Australia has started work on the Morrison Government’s Hunter Class Frigate Program.

Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, said the 18 apprentices will form part of the growing workforce that will build the Royal Australian Navy’s nine Hunter class anti-submarine warfare frigates.

“The high school students will work in steelwork, mechanical, electrical and technical trades and will have the opportunity to begin their training while also completing school,” Minister Price said.

“These young men and women are the future of the Australian Government’s National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise and this intake is an important first step for the Hunter Class Frigate Program.

“This apprenticeship program complements the work that ASC Shipbuilding is doing with its Diploma of Digital Technology. This is a terrific program that began earlier this year and which teaches the digital technology skills needed to work on the Hunter class frigates.”

Senator for South Australia and Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said that continuous naval shipbuilding was creating a pipeline of job opportunities for the next generation of South Australians within our booming defence industry.

“These apprenticeships will give young South Australians the opportunity to learn practical skills while completing their education, setting them up for a lifelong career in naval shipbuilding ,” Minister Birmingham said.

“Our record investments in naval shipbuilding will see South Australians help to equip our navy with world class capabilities while delivering cutting-edge job opportunities for thousands of South Australians.”

ASC Shipbuilding will hire over 500 apprentices throughout the multi-decade Hunter Class Frigate Program, with a second intake of 22 students to occur later this year.

/Public Release. View in full here.