The McGowan Government has joined forces with Western Australia’s defence industry to support veterans wanting to continue their defence industry careers in non-service roles.
Eligible veterans will be able to apply for at least 80 scholarships of up to $5,000 through the Defence Industry Veterans Employment Scheme Scholarship Program, which is funded by the McGowan Government and supported by industry.
The scholarship program is part of the McGowan Government’s broader $18.34 million package designed to build WA’s defence manufacturing workforce and ensure our State is well positioned to take on opportunities across all the defence domains.
This package also includes financial incentives for employers, new maritime defence industry TAFE courses and facilities upgrades at South Metropolitan TAFE.
The scholarship program will help veterans cover eligible vocational education and training and university study costs that are relevant to defence industry careers, including tuition and other compulsory fees, textbooks and equipment.
Eligible veterans will also be able to access career planning support from the program to identify training or further study leading to defence career pathways.
The program is being managed by the dedicated Defence Industry Team located at South Metropolitan TAFE’s Rockingham Jobs and Skills Centre.
For more information, visit https://www.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/defence
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“Every year, about 300 Australian Defence Force members transition to civilian life and settle in WA.
“The transition from service life to civilian employment can be difficult without structured pathways.
“In many cases, veterans need to undertake additional study or training to gain access to other career pathways in the defence industry.
“Our partnership with industry in this scholarship program will enable us to support defence veterans who have sacrificed so much for our community to enter engineering trades and upskill into non-trade defence industry careers.”
As stated by Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
“Western Australia is a great place for veterans to transition back into civilian life, as there are programs to support them into rewarding careers.
“The Defence Industry Veterans Employment Scheme will provide training and higher education opportunities and a structured pathway for veterans to move into employment in non-service defence roles.
“As a key provider to defence industry training, South Metropolitan TAFE is ideally placed to train the next generation of defence personnel.
“The Defence Industry Team based at the Rockingham Jobs and Skills Centre is available to support people on their chosen career pathway specialising in careers and training for the maritime defence industry.”
As stated by Defence Industry and Veterans Issues Minister Paul Papalia:
“The sacrifice and commitment of veterans must be recognised beyond end of service, and this program provides strong support for their transition back to civilian life.
“Veterans have valuable skills and experience that can be effectively used by the defence industry and make them highly desirable defence industry employees.
“As a workforce cohort, veterans are disciplined, have a strong work ethic and have experience using the products created by the defence industry.
“Western Australia is committed to supporting veteran pathways into civilian employment to ensure that veterans find a new sense of purpose and identity.”
