The Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) and ASC have made further progress to deliver the significant workforce growth and the development of skills, knowledge and experience required to sustain Virginia-class submarines.
ASC recently welcomed 81 apprentices and graduates to the company’s submarine workforce in South Australia and Western Australia.
The welcoming of the apprentices follows on from 41 future submarine builders and sustainers commencing four-year, full-time trades-based apprenticeships, bringing the total number of apprentices to 144.
At Osborne in SA, 20 apprentices aged 17-36 spent part of their first day touring ASC’s submarine yard, where the company’s highly-skilled workforce built, and now sustains, Australia’s Collins Class submarines.
In WA, 21 apprentices aged 17-30 joined the workforce – the highest ever apprentice intake in the west.
Of the 41 new apprentices, 12 are commencing electrical, 12 are undertaking fabrication, and 17 are pursuing mechanical trades.
This year, apprentices were selected from a record-breaking 1,300 applications.
In March 2024, ASC was selected as the Australian Government’s Sovereign Submarine Partner to sustain and, together with BAE Systems, jointly build conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines, known as SSN-AUKUS, at Osborne.
At Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia, ASC will deliver sustainment services for Australia’s future Virginia Class and SSN-AUKUS submarines.
Director-General ASA acknowledges the work of Australian industry to deliver conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.
“ASA is proud to work with ASC to deliver the workforce needed to deliver Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program,” Vice Admiral Mead said.
“We are committed to developing Australia’s workforce with our AUKUS partners, industry, unions, education, and training institutions to support the program with a scale of work unlike any previous shipbuilding program in Australia’s history.”
Forty graduates as future submarine engineers and designers, project managers, cyber security specialists, and people and culture professionals have also started at ASC in 2025.
ASC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Stuart Whiley, said he was pleased so many people were choosing a career in submarine build and sustainment.
“We are working tirelessly to grow and develop our workforce that is required to continue sustaining Australia’s Collins Class submarines, and support the Australian Government’s mission to sustain and jointly-build conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines,” Stuart Whiley said.
“The record-breaking WA apprentice intake is especially pleasing – sustainment work on visiting US and UK submarines will soon ramp up, and eventually our workforce will be responsible for full sustainment services for Australia’s future Virginia Class and SSN-AUKUS submarines.”
Some of these apprentices and graduates are participating in the Jobs for Subs program announced(Opens in a new tab/window) by the Australian Government in 2024, which will see around 200 additional entry-level personnel join ASC over the next two years.
These apprentices and graduates will have access to exciting opportunities to work at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard as part of the sustainment system on US conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
In total, more than 100 Australian shipyard workers at ASC are expected to depart by mid-2025 for naval propulsion skilling at Pearl Harbor.