If you're a veteran of the Australian Defence Force — ex-serving , or in active or inactive reserve service in the Navy, Air Force or Army — or considering your career options outside of the ADF, there's a range of opportunities waiting for you!
Start something with a rewarding, long term career where you can continue to support the ADF while you learn and grow, with new opportunities as part of the other force — WA's defence industry.
Our defence industry develops, maintains and implements cutting edge technology, infrastructure and assets across all five defence capability domains — information and cyber, maritime, air, space, and land. Each domain offers a range of jobs and careers from specialist trades such as welding, fabrication and electrical through to paraprofessional and professional roles such as engineering, logistics and project management.
As an ADF veteran — your skills and experience are valuable! They may relate directly to one of these domains, or they could be transferrable across a range of jobs and careers for several or all five.
Free specialist defence industry support for veterans
A specialist defence industry team is available at the Rockingham Jobs and Skills Centre (JSC). They can help with information about training, support to help with your job search or career change, and advice about career options.
All services at the Rockingham JSC, and at all other JSCs across WA, are free and available to anyone.
Find out more about free services from Jobs and Skills Centres
If you need to build on your skills and knowledge, there's a range of qualifications to choose from — some with course fees reduced by half or more.
There's even a veterans scholarship program offering up to $5,000 for training to support your transition into a defence industry career.
Follow the links, to find out more.
- Free advice and support for training, careers and jobs
- Need to skill up? Browse through our defence industry courses
- Short course skill sets for specialist trades
- Defence industry veterans scholarship program
You can also visit our main Defence industry page for more useful information about WA's defence industry and the opportunities it offers.
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NEW! A defence qualification from TAFE could be eligible for credit towards a university degree through an articulation pathway, potentially reducing the time and cost required to upskill with a higher level qualification! |
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It's estimated that an additional 1,100 skilled workers are required by 2027 across all defence domains, including in regional areas of WA. Future work includes the demand created by new ship build and sustainment projects, and other opportunities that may come to the state such as eight mine warfare and hydrographic vessels; two large joint support ships; a range of defence projects to support Australia’s Army, Air Force and the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS) which includes Australia's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. As an ADF veteran, you are ideally placed to take advantage of all these great opportunities! |
From army base to building ships!
After ten years of service in the Army, Nicholaas was ready for a change. He spent some time in the mining industry, but the FIFO work was challenging as he has a young family so he decided to pursue an apprenticeship locally and was offered employment with BAE Systems, one of Australia's leading defence industry employers, as an apprentice boilermaker.
Nicholaas is making great progress through his apprenticeship, studying for a Certificate III in Engineering Fabrication (Heavy Welding) which will see him being fully trade qualified once completed. He is loving being part of the defence industry, and enjoying working out of the shipbuilding yards in Henderson which is local to where he lives. " I’m using my hands and head and learning new skills, and I am doing something that I enjoy.".
He says that Army experience gives you a strong work ethic and the ability to strategically use your time — great attributes to carry into a new career!
Defence Industry Veterans Employment Scheme
The Defence Industry Veterans Employment Scheme (DIVES) scholarship program is part of the WA State Government's investment to boost defence industry capabilities and ensure a pipeline of skilled professional, paraprofessional and specialist trades workers. DIVES provides scholarships of up to $5,000 to cover the cost of training for eligible veterans — ex-serving ADF members, ADF members in active or inactive reserve forces, or current ADF serving members about to transition/separate within three to six months — for defence industry occupations with current demand. These occupations are across ten key areas.
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- Download the DIVES information flyer
- Take a look at the list of defence industry occupations eligible for DIVES
Apply now
Applications are open for the DIVES scholarship program. Apply now via the South Metropolitan TAFE website
For more information or assistance with your DIVES application, please contact the defence industry careers team located at the Rockingham Jobs and Skills Centre on 08 9599 8655; or email defence.careers@smtafe.wa.edu.au.
Need to skill up?
When it comes to getting a job in WA's defence industry, your skills and knowledge and experience as a veteran can really give you the edge over other jobseekers. If you need to skill up for a particular occupation or field, there's a range of vocational education and training (VET) and university courses available that can set you up with the skills employers are looking for. And there's never been a better time to get into training — we have over 100 courses that are FREE IN '23, plus a range of qualifications with course fees reduced by half or more, with an annual fees cap!*
There's a course or qualification for almost every job in the defence industry — from trades and technical work through to specialist technology and management roles, and everything in between! Once you have identified the type of work you are interested in, and/or the occupation you're going for, you can find a course or qualification that offers the skills and knowledge you'll need to be job ready.
Defence industry courses
The courses listed here are all specifically related to jobs in the defence industry, but there are many other courses across a range of industry and/or study areas that align with occupations in the defence industry. To expand the list, use the search filters.
- Select from the filters under Skills Ready if you would like to search for FREE IN '23 or reduced-fee courses
- If you're looking for something specific, enter one or more keywords such as "welding" or ''submarine"
- To find out more about a course, select its title. You can also add courses to your 'favourites' list, to save them for later
Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade (Fitting and Machining)
National ID : MEM30219 | State ID : AD57
This career could be the perfect fit!
You can become a mechanical fitter and machinist with the Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade (Fitting/Machining Trade) qualification.
Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade (Fitting)
National ID : MEM30219 | State ID : AD58
This career could be the perfect fit!
You can become a mechanical fitter and machinist with the Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade (Fitting/Machining Trade) qualification.
Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade (Machinist)
National ID : MEM30219 | State ID : AD56
This career could be the perfect fit!
You can become a mechanical fitter and machinist with the Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade (Fitting/Machining Trade) qualification.
Certificate III in Marine Craft Construction
National ID : MEM30719 | State ID : BEJ7
You're gonna need a bigger boat!
How would you like to work in marine craft construction. building ships and boats? This is the qualification for you! Generally only available as an apprenticeship, this course covers everything you need to become trades qualified as a ship/boat builder.
Certificate III in Telecommunications Technology
National ID : ICT30519 | State ID : BER3
New career who 'dis? Are you ready to make that call?
Telecommunications is the lifeblood of almost everything we do! By completing your Certificate III in Telecommunications Technology,, you'll have the telecommunications technician skills to keep Australians and Australian businesses connected.
Certificate IV in Cyber Security
National ID : 22603VIC | State ID : BGT15
Ready to protect and defend against cyber crime? FEE FREE!
Jump straight into the world of cyber security and become a skilled and trusted professional in a fast growing industry! In a world where cyber attacks are increasing, now is the time to gain in demand skills that can form the foundation for a career and a job of the future in cyber security.
Certificate IV in Engineering (Instrumentation)
National ID : MEM40119 | State ID : AD20
Fine tune yourself an exciting career — FEE FREE!
The Certificate IV in Engineering (Instrumentation) is an engineering trade qualification for instrumentation technicians who may work in a range of industries and sectors.
Certificate IV in Information Technology [Systems Administration Support]
National ID : ICT40120 | State ID : AC18
Looking to hone your skills in IT and network support? FEE FREE!
If you've got a knack for customer service, solving complex problems, and paying sharp attention to detail then this tech course is for you. With technology at the heart of every modern organisation, broad technical skills that keep hardware, software and networks up and running are in demand more than ever.
CNC Operations Skill Set
State ID : AE374
Tack your welding career up to the next level!
This short course skill set will provide people who have experience in this area with specialist skills in operating, programming and setting up of CNC machinery.
Diploma of Applied Technologies
National ID : 22460VIC | State ID : BCZ46
Gear up for an exciting career in new technologies!
Do you need technical skills to work in Industry 4.0 manufacturing or engineering workplaces?
Short course skill sets for upskilling
Are you...
- a qualified tradesperson or technician with experience in fabrication, engineering or manufacturing who would like to get up to code for working in the defence industry?
- already working in the defence industry, and would like to skill up for a new project or upgrade your certifications?
- a qualified fabricator or engineering tradesperson within the defence industry who's keen to progress to a supervisory role?
If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, take a look at these new short course skill sets! They have been developed in consultation with businesses and employers to deliver fast track training to upskill — specifically for existing tradespeople — whether you need to upgrade to meet defence industry code specifications, upskill to work on a new project, develop your skills and knowledge to move into a supervising role, or learn new technologies or processes for different types of operations — a skill set is the way to go.
Because all of these skill sets are made up of units of competency from nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) qualifications, you will receive credit for them if you choose to go on to further study. And best of all... to support our defence industry workforce here in WA, the course fees for these skill sets have been reduced by half (and capped)* — so take a look and see if there's something here for you.
The CNC Operations skill set is for qualified/experienced tradespersons employed in engineering production or manufacturing. It has been developed specifically to suit the role of an engineering supervisor in the defence industry; for example those working on projects such as ship or aircraft building or the maintenance of military vehicles.
This skill set will provide certified engineering and manufacturing tradespersons with specialist skills in the operation, programming and set up of CNC machinery. You will gain the practical skills and knowledge to analyse and inspect components, edit CNC programs, and apply workplace health and safety.
For details of course availability, please refer to the defence industry course list
The Coded Welding Flux Cored Arc skill set covers preparing and producing welds to code standards using flux cored arc welding. It has been developed specifically to suit the role of a welding supervisor in the defence industry; for example those working on projects such as ship or aircraft building or the maintenance of military vehicles.
It will provide existing workers with the skills to be able to weld to the requirements of AS1796 and obtain Certification no. 8F from Weld Australia. You will also gain knowledge and skills on health and safety with welding, setting and maintaining welding parameters, fillet welds, and butt welds on plate at various positions. Preparing and setting up of pipe components and pipe welds within this course are performed by using weld rotators.
For details of course availability, please refer to the defence industry course list
The Coded Welding Gas Tungsten Arc skill set covers preparing and producing welds to code standards using gas tungsten arc welding. It has been developed specifically to suit the role of a welder in the defence industry; for example those working on projects such as ship or aircraft building or the maintenance of military vehicles.
It will provide existing workers with the skills to be able to weld to the requirements of AS1796 and obtain Certificate no. 7 from Weld Australia. You will also gain knowledge and skills on health and safety with welding, setting and maintaining welding parameters, as well as welding in the 2G and 5G weld positions.
For details of course availability, please refer to the defence industry course list
The Coded Welding Manual Metal Arc Welding (Pipe) skill set will provide existing workers with the skills to weld to the requirements of AS1796 and obtain Certification no. 4 from Weld Australia. It has been developed specifically to suit the defence industry; for example those working on projects such as ship or aircraft building or the maintenance of military vehicles.
This skill set defines the skills and knowledge required for an existing engineering tradesperson who chooses to study at a higher level within metal, engineering, manufacturing and associated occupations in the defence industry. You will also gain knowledge and skills on health and safety with welding, setting and maintaining welding parameters, as well as welding in the 2G and 5G weld positions
For details of course availability, please refer to the defence industry course list
The Fluid Power skill set defines the skills and knowledge required for employment as a Higher Engineering Tradesperson or a Special Class Engineering Tradesperson (Mechanical) within metals, engineering, manufacturing and associated occupations, or at equivalent levels in other industries where engineering tradespersons work. It has been developed specifically to suit the role of a welding supervisor in the defence industry; for example those working on projects such as ship or aircraft building or the maintenance of military vehicles.
This skill set will provide existing workers with specialist skills in hydraulic systems, suitable for careers as a hydraulic fitter/technician or hydraulic systems designer. You will gain the practical skills and knowledge to analyse, inspect and maintain hydraulic and pneumatic systems; maintain fluid power controls; monitor/inspect equipment condition; tube bending and fitting; understanding logic systems; and workplace health and safety.
For details of course availability, please refer to the defence industry course list
The Welding Supervisor skill set is for existing engineering tradespersons who wish to progress to the supervision of welding processes and outcomes. It has been developed specifically to suit the role of a welding supervisor in the defence industry; for example those working on projects such as ship or aircraft building or the maintenance of military vehicles.
This skill set will provide you with the skills to be able to write complex reports, inspect and interpret code requirements and diagnose faults. You’ll also learn how to prepare and formalise welding processes and procedures, monitor weld production, inspect welds and align weld testing as per code requirements, document and record information, and write detailed reports.
For details of course availability, please refer to the defence industry course list
*Eligibility conditions apply for reduced-fee qualifications, the annual fees cap, and free training. Please visit our Skills Ready page for full details.
Looking for career or training advice? We can help!
A dedicated defence industry team is available at the Rockingham Jobs and Skills Centre, with specialist experience supporting ADF veterans. They can help you decide on the best options for training, job seeking and career planning for your future in WA's defence industry. They can also assist you to apply for the DIVES scholarship, by helping you align your ADF skills and experience with the training and occupations that are eligible for the program.
There's also other JSCs located across Perth and regional WA who offer general advice and support about training, careers and jobs.
All JSC services are completely free of charge.
Contact the specialist defence industry team at the Rockingham JSC, or drop in for a chat.
P: 08 9599 8655
E: defence.careers@smtafe.wa.edu.au
South Metropolitan TAFE Rockingham campus
Simpson Avenue Rockingham (Building G)
To contact the other Jobs and Skills Centres across WA, follow the link below to find your local centre or call the number below to reach your nearest JSC.