The Australian Government announced a new initiative aimed at bolstering Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine workforce through the Jobs for Subs program. 

This program is set to recruit and upskill 200 young workers, a critical move to ensure the success of the Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-W) program, the government said in a media release. 

The Nuclear-Powered Submarine Graduate, Apprenticeship and Traineeship initiative, a government-funded program, will support ASC Pty Ltd in recruiting 200 additional entry-level personnel over the next two years. 

These roles will focus on high-priority disciplines and trades essential to the nuclear-powered submarine enterprise. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the importance of this initiative during a visit to HMAS Stirling. 

“It is an honour to visit HMAS Stirling and see the finest of Australia’s workforce becoming stronger through the strength of the AUKUS partnership. We are announcing a new graduate, apprenticeship, and traineeship program to train an additional 200 West Australians to work on the Submarine Rotational Force – West program,” he said.

The PM added, “We want to keep Australians safe. That’s why WA will play a key role in building AUKUS. This will help promote peace and deterrence in the region and support local jobs.”

The initiative will predominantly benefit Western Australia, where roles will span across fabrication and machining, engineering and project management, and supply chain and operations qualifications. 

ASC Pty Ltd, as Australia’s sovereign submarine partner for the sustainment of nuclear-powered submarines, will play a critical role in developing the required skills, workforce, knowledge, and capability.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles emphasised the significance of today’s announcement in growing the necessary workforce. 

“Today’s announcement is another important step in growing the workforce to be equipped with the skills and training we need to acquire Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines,” Marles said. 

“We welcome the crews of USS Hawaii and USS Emory S. Land to Western Australia, for this milestone. We welcome our US friends to our shores and welcome home the Australians that have been embedded with them.”

The Australian Government has committed up to $8 billion in infrastructure to enable SRF-W from 2027, as part of broader efforts to operate Australia’s own Virginia-class conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s. 

The nuclear-powered submarine program is expected to create around 20,000 highly skilled jobs across Australia, including approximately 3,000 jobs in Western Australia alone.

Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy underscored the importance of developing ASC’s sustainment workforce. 

“This is a further boost to the development of ASC’s sustainment workforce and follows the first cohort of workers departing for training at Pearl Harbour Naval Shipyard in July,” Conroy stated. 

“Australian industry is integral not only to Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program, but also to supporting the future building, sustainment, and maintenance of the submarines of our AUKUS partners.”

ASC Pty Ltd has already been active in developing Australia’s sovereign sustainment workforce, notably during the Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period (SMTP) currently underway at HMAS Stirling. 

This SMTP marks a significant milestone in Australia’s pathway to acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine capability, with Royal Australian Navy personnel directly participating in maintenance work on the USS Hawaii (SSN 776), a Virginia-class submarine.

Conroy highlighted the progress being made, saying, “We are seeing real progress being made to develop the workforce of thousands of highly-skilled scientists, engineers, project managers, operators, technicians, welders, construction workers, electricians, metal fitters, and builders that will be needed to support this nation-building endeavor.”

The announcement today builds on the Albanese Government’s broader efforts to grow Australia’s skilled workforce, including more than 4,000 additional Commonwealth-supported university places and collaborations with states and territories. 

“The Albanese Government is investing in the workforce we need to deliver Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines and a future made in Australia,” Prime Minister Albanese affirmed.