Educators were recently equipped with the tools to guide the next generation into the defence industry workforce, through the Educator Professional Development Day at the Indian Ocean Defence and Security (IODS) event, hosted 28 May.
This full‑day program brought together teachers, vocational and training coordinators, career practitioners, and education leaders to explore emerging career opportunities across the defence and national security sectors, an area where the WA government is seeking to achieve growth.
The Western Australian defence industry has achieved particular attention in recent weeks after it was announced that there were plans to establish a manufacturing hub for guided ballistic missiles in the rural town of Collie, which would make WA the third state in the nation to build such weapons domestically.
“Held in Perth, Western Australia, a critical gateway to the Indo-Pacific region, the event provides exhibitors from defence, government, research and aligned industries such as mining, communications, logistics and commercial shipping with direct access to decision-makers and global partners,” the IODS prospectus stated.
“WA is a vital enabler of national defence objectives including the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program, Collins Class sustainment, naval shipbuilding enterprise, and emerging multi-domain capabilities.”
Participants at the event engaged directly with industry experts, took part in hands‑on workshops, and accessed practical resources to better support students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), trades, and advanced‑technology fields.
A key feature of the program was the Inside the Student Career Mindset session, an interactive workshop using Lego to explore what drives students’ career choices. Educators built and shared ideas to uncover the skills, motivations and barriers shaping student success in defence and defence‑industry pathways, gaining valuable insight into student perspectives while highlighting critical capabilities such as problem‑solving, teamwork and resilience.
Another highlight was the Effective STEM Partnerships Workshop, delivered by Questacon, Australia’s national science and technology centre. This session challenged participants with a STEM problem within a defence‑strategy context, to demonstrate how industry expertise can support real‑world STEM learning and strengthen school‑industry collaboration.
The Building the Future Workforce panel session examined how WA is developing its defence and security workforce in line with national priorities, including discussions on key career pathways, workforce needs, and in‑demand STEM skills.
This initiative forms part of the broader IODS Careers Program, which supports workforce development and positions Western Australia to meet national defence priorities, including submarine capability and advanced manufacturing.
Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia said these education sessions are vital to the future of our defence industry.
“Western Australia’s defence industry pipeline starts in the classroom, and educators play a critical role in helping young people understand the opportunities available to them. This program gives teachers and career practitioners direct exposure to the industries, technologies and skills shaping Australia’s future defence workforce.
“We know major defence projects will need thousands of skilled workers across advanced manufacturing, engineering, cyber, trades and STEM fields, and WA is well placed to help meet that demand.
“By strengthening the connection between industry and education, we are helping ensure more young Western Australians can see a future for themselves in these high-value, high-skilled careers.”
