‘Nuclear Foundations’ course preps local workforce for AUKUS
A new university-level micro credential will prepare the local defence industry workforce to support and maintain visiting nuclear submarines to Western Australia, with the initial intake of 40 students completing the course earlier this week.
The ‘Naval Nuclear Foundations: Technology and Assurance’ course is being offered at Curtin University and aims to up-skill current defence industry professionals in what is dubbed ‘nuclear literacy’ by the university’s partner H&B Defence.
According to a statement in December last year, the company said several places in the initial intake were reserved for small and medium enterprises working in the Henderson shipyard precinct, located south of Perth.
Managing director Tim Brown said the course gave participants the technical grounding and foundation to working in a nuclear-regulated environment.
“Partnering… with Curtin University ensure(s) the course is delivered to the highest academic and industry standards,” he said.
“(And) with Henderson Alliance securing places for its members, we are widening access to the skills needed to support Australia’s future nuclear powered submarine capability under AUKUS”.
Henderson Alliance chairperson Rohan Green said up-skilling will better place members to take advantage of the AUKUS supply chain.
“SMEs will form a key element of the capability growth that is needed in WA to build and sustain nuclear-powered submarines”, he said
The course is funded by the WA government as part of its push to create an industrial base and workforce to service the rotation of Royal Navy and Untied States Navy nuclear submarines at the HMAS Stirling naval base on Garden Island.
WA Defence Industry minister Paul Papalia said the partnership between Curtin University and H&B Defence ensures workers can operate around nuclear warships safely.
“By backing industry-designed micro credentials through the Defence Industry Reskilling and Upskilling Grants Program, we are ensuring local workers gain the specific skills and safety culture required for the most demanding roles in the defence sector,” he said.
WA Skills and TAFE minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the move demonstrates how the state’s academic institutions and are adapting to the skill requirements of the defence industry.
“This course gives Western Australians the foundation to work safely and effectively in a nuclear-regulated environment,” she said.
“We are supporting the tertiary education sector to produce job-ready graduates by investing in targeted, industry-led training that strengthens our sovereign capability.”
According to the Curtin University website, the two-day course will teach students the essential knowledge, context and assurance principles required to operate in a highly regulated and safety-critical environment.
Students will also build a practical understanding of naval nuclear technology, safety philosophies and US and UK-aligned quality frameworks which are tailored to the Australian context.
The WA government will also fund a second micro credential course which will launch later this year, and will cover submarine technology, regulations and support infrastructure.
H&B Defence said it will complement the ‘nuclear fundamentals’ course and provide a ‘follow on’ training pathway for industry professionals looking to enter or advance within Australia’s submarine sustainment workforce.
The company is a joint venture between US shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls and British defence and nuclear engineering company Babcock International for the purpose of – according to its website – supporting “the development of critical sovereign capability” for the AUKUS submarine program.
The ‘Naval Nuclear Foundations: Technology and Assurance’ course is being offered at Curtin University and aims to up-skill current defence industry professionals in what is dubbed ‘nuclear literacy’ by the university’s partner H&B Defence.
According to a statement in December last year, the company said several places in the initial intake were reserved for small and medium enterprises working in the Henderson shipyard precinct, located south of Perth.
Managing director Tim Brown said the course gave participants the technical grounding and foundation to working in a nuclear-regulated environment.
“Partnering… with Curtin University ensure(s) the course is delivered to the highest academic and industry standards,” he said.
“(And) with Henderson Alliance securing places for its members, we are widening access to the skills needed to support Australia’s future nuclear powered submarine capability under AUKUS”.
Henderson Alliance chairperson Rohan Green said up-skilling will better place members to take advantage of the AUKUS supply chain.
“SMEs will form a key element of the capability growth that is needed in WA to build and sustain nuclear-powered submarines”, he said
The course is funded by the WA government as part of its push to create an industrial base and workforce to service the rotation of Royal Navy and Untied States Navy nuclear submarines at the HMAS Stirling naval base on Garden Island.
WA Defence Industry minister Paul Papalia said the partnership between Curtin University and H&B Defence ensures workers can operate around nuclear warships safely.
“By backing industry-designed micro credentials through the Defence Industry Reskilling and Upskilling Grants Program, we are ensuring local workers gain the specific skills and safety culture required for the most demanding roles in the defence sector,” he said.
WA Skills and TAFE minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the move demonstrates how the state’s academic institutions and are adapting to the skill requirements of the defence industry.
“This course gives Western Australians the foundation to work safely and effectively in a nuclear-regulated environment,” she said.
“We are supporting the tertiary education sector to produce job-ready graduates by investing in targeted, industry-led training that strengthens our sovereign capability.”
According to the Curtin University website, the two-day course will teach students the essential knowledge, context and assurance principles required to operate in a highly regulated and safety-critical environment.
Students will also build a practical understanding of naval nuclear technology, safety philosophies and US and UK-aligned quality frameworks which are tailored to the Australian context.
The WA government will also fund a second micro credential course which will launch later this year, and will cover submarine technology, regulations and support infrastructure.
H&B Defence said it will complement the ‘nuclear fundamentals’ course and provide a ‘follow on’ training pathway for industry professionals looking to enter or advance within Australia’s submarine sustainment workforce.
The company is a joint venture between US shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls and British defence and nuclear engineering company Babcock International for the purpose of – according to its website – supporting “the development of critical sovereign capability” for the AUKUS submarine program.