SOUTH METROPOLITAN TAFE: PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SKILLED DEFENCE INDUSTRY WORKERS

By Terry Durant,

Managing Director, South Metropolitan TAFE

One of the most exciting parts of running a large training organisation is seeing how our state economy evolves while providing training to emerging industries. It’s also one of our ongoing challenges: training for now as well as the future - for emerging industries as well as established ones. South Metropolitan TAFE is Western Australia’s leading provider of defence industry training and works closely with defence industry to deliver a pipeline of skilled workers to meet emerging demand.

SM TAFE provides new training to upskill qualified trade workers to transition into the defence industry across CNC operations, welding and fluid power. © SM TAFE.

The Training Cyber Security Operations Centre provides advanced cyber security training. © SM TAFE.

When SM TAFE formed in 2016, it was clear to us that our positioning in the state meant we would need to respond to the needs of the developing defence sector in WA. We’ve worked hard to align this with our broader strategic focus on what we call ‘future skills,’ which are progressively becoming the competencies of today. Hallmarks of Industry 4.0, namely automation and robotics, is increasingly becoming part of our training for jobs that exist in industry now.

The benefits of training for the defence sector is the acquisition of complementary skills that span industries with growing significance for our economy. Training in cyber security is one key example. SM TAFE is forging a path as one of Australia’s leading providers of cyber security training in Australia with advanced training capability, including WA’s Training Cyber Security Operations Centre (TCSOC) at Murdoch Campus. The TCSOC provides advanced cyber security training, including opportunities for industry to simulate a range of workplace scenarios. The 109th Signal Squadron, 8th Signal Regiment co-located at 13th Brigade of the Australian Army Reserve, recently utilised the TCSOC as part of their workforce cyber upskilling program. SM TAFE is Western Australia’s leading provider of defence industry training and works closely with the defence industry to deliver a pipeline of skilled workers to meet the emerging needs of this industry.

Responding to new Defence also presents technologies and an opportunity to trial innovative technologies advancements in the maritime in our training. SM TAFE defence industry, SM TAFE recently acquired a suite of Soldamatic augmented is introducing a new training reality welding simulators for our Naval Base training landscape with the installation facility that will improve of a suite of maritime training the quality, safety and efficiency of our training. simulators at our maritime This technology ensures the future defence sector training centre in Fremantle. workforce is equipped for the rapid scale-up of defence and shipbuilding projects. Responding to new technologies and advancements in the maritime area of the defence sector, SM TAFE is introducing a new training landscape with the installation of a suite of maritime training simulators at our maritime training centre in Fremantle. These advanced facilities will provide opportunities to deliver new innovative maritime short courses and micro-credentials to address advanced training requirements in the maritime sector as Industry 4.0 technologies are introduced and on-board systems become digitalised. Advanced training offered by these facilities will promote improvements in operational efficiencies, crew safety and address ship-to-shore connectivity, fuel efficiency and advanced navigation skills. Our recent work with the Sultanate of Oman, Royal Oman Police (ROP) Coast Guard Division highlights our capacity to provide highly specialised maritime training. Planning is underway to transform Munster campus, home of the renowned ACEPT facility, into an Automation Hub to provide skilling in emerging technologies. SM TAFE recently featured in the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics’ World Best Practice Guide for our work in automation with Rio Tinto, we are committed to positioning the college as a national leader in this field. The SM TAFE has recently introduced drone training to equip participants with skills to design and build programable drones and other autonomous robotic technology. The hub will maximise training potential across the TAFE’s delivery and geographical footprint and drive the repositioning of its training portfolios most exposed to Industry 4.0 changes. Further, SM TAFE is leading the first WA pilot of the Diploma of Applied Technologies Industry 4.0-focused qualification that prepares individuals to undertake para-professional technical roles within advanced manufacturing and engineering environments. Students complete their training using advanced facilities at our Munster campus, including new ArmPi Intelligent Visual Robotic Arms procured for the Automation Hub.

The reskilling and upskilling of existing defence workers, veterans and staff from associated industries is crucial to ensuring WA is defence ready. Our TAFE is playing a key role in ensuring a pipeline of skilled tradespeople for the defence industry. In consultation with industry and the WA government, SM TAFE has developed a $3.3m package of seven new maritime defence industry ‘skill sets’ designed to give qualified trade workers the skills required to transition into the defence industry across CNC operations, welding and fluid power.

The successful Women in the Defence Industry scholarship program is delivered by SM TAFE to promote diversity in the industry and encourage women to pursue a stable career pathways, with ample long-term opportunities. This program offers six months of free technical engineering and electronics training designed to prepare participants for employment in the industry and 20 scholarships are being offered annually until 2024.

With the increasing demand for workers in the shipbuilding industry in Western Australia DIPP offers participants a ‘taster’ of the defence industry to assist in the selection of a career pathway into the defence industry. The nationally recognised Certificate III in Defence Industry Pathways qualification will be delivered as part of this 12-month traineeship. Launched in June by Minister for Defence Industry the Hon. Melissa Price MP, the first cohort will commence in July 2021 with industry partners in the Henderson shipbuilding precinct. The program will see the supervision mentoring and on-thejob training for 120 participants by mid-2022.

Focussing on youth engagement, SM TAFE offers dedicated defence programs creating seamless pathways between schools, TAFE colleges, higher education, and the defence sector. Year 11 and 12 students can commence defence industry careers through VET Delivered to Secondary Students (VETDSS) programs, which include shipbuilding, logistics and warehousing, submarine maintenance, defence trades, engineering and maritime studies.

Striving to be positioned for all future defencerelated training, SM TAFE continues to collaborate with organisations positioned at the forefront of the industry and consults extensively with industry stakeholders to ensure a whole-of-workforce development approach. There are many exciting opportunities for West Australians to develop their ‘future skills’ for a career in an advanced and growing defence industry.

By Geoff Crittenden,

CEO, Weld Australia

Following the announcement of the SEA 1000, SEA 5000 and Land 400 projects, Weld Australia commenced planning for the manufacturing phase. Extensive collaboration with defence industry primes revealed several key issues: lack of an internationally recognised standards-based framework for welder qualification and certification, outdated and under-funded welder training infrastructure at TAFEs, and a significant risk of being unable to attract and retain sufficient welders to complete projects.

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, Australian industry was already facing a looming workforce crisis, including a severe shortage of skilled, qualified welders. According to a recent employment outlook survey in Australia, skilled trades workers such as welders, engineers, and technicians are scarce.

This skills shortage is compounded by a rapidly ageing welding workforce, with approximately 30% of Australia’s existing welding workforce aged 45 years or over. This heavy proportion of older skilled trade workers, particularly welders, puts into focus the looming issues that sectors such as defence are likely to face when Baby Boomers finally reach retirement age. Welding positions will simply become impossible to fill, particularly given the projected increased demand with several largescale, high-value projects on the horizon. To help overcome these issues, Weld Australia developed the Advanced Welder Training Centres (AWTCs) concept and, after securing over $5m in government funding established more than 10 AWTCs across the nation, including one at South Metropolitan TAFE in Western Australia. The AWTCs use augmented reality welding simulators to up-skill qualified welders and train transitionary workers according to AS/NZS ISO 9606.1 - qualification testing of welders - fusion welding.

In 2017, Weld Australia’s research indicated that only 38 people in Australia held this qualification. Australia’s lack of ISO 9606-1 qualified welders meant that in order to fulfil their ADF contractual obligations, defence primes and their supply chains would be required to engage overseas workers. This workforce strategy would not align with the Australian Government’s Sovereign Industrial Capability Priorities, which aim to provide the ADF with costeffective, cutting-edge capability while maximising Australian industry involvement. “ The augmented reality technology underpinning the AWTCs is efficient and effective, with 34% more welders certified in 56% less time. It is very affordable, reducing training costs by 68%, and very safe, reducing accidents by 84%. It is student-focused, allowing individuals to progress at their own pace

Working with defence industry primes, Weld Australia introduced ISO 9606-1 into the Australian Standards framework as AS/NZS ISO 9606.1. ISO 9606-1 is the only standard in the world accepted in both Europe and America, and is the minimum requirement for Defence, rolling stock, infrastructure, pressure equipment projects.

ISO 9606-1 utilises a simple test that assesses welding competency according to specific weld procedure. It can be used to test the competency of a welder for a variety of procedures, positions, processes and materials. Once Weld Australia introduced ISO 9606-1, we developed web-based software to manage qualification and certification compliance, hosted on the Australian Welder Certification Register. We then worked closely with TAFEs to undertake gap analysis and curriculum review, and then lobbied state governments for funding to establish AWTCs across the nation.

The augmented reality technology underpinning the AWTCs is efficient and effective, with 34% more

The use of augmented reality technology is central to AWTCs successfully training and skilling increasingly larger numbers of qualified welders to meet the growing demand within defence industry. © Seabery via Weld Australia.

welders certified in 56% less time. It is very affordable, reducing training costs by 68%, and very safe, reducing accidents by 84%. It is student-focused, allowing individuals to progress at their own pace. Welding apprentices learn and understand procedures and techniques through a more interactive training method, gaining hands-on experience in a controlled, safe environment.

With zero risks involved, apprentices can respond to realistic scenarios without pressure or fear of injury. Augmented reality training is enabling future welders to acquire the skills and the selfconfidence they need before moving into real-world Defence workshops.

Through Weld Australia’s Defence Industry Group, the AWTCs have received positive feedback from the likes of Austal, EMICoL, the Henderson Alliance, and the Naval Shipbuilding College.

It’s little wonder that the initiative has garnered such positive feedback from the WA defence industry. The AWTCs are already playing a vital role in ensuring that local welders are ready to meet the huge demand that will be created by the various defence industry projects on the horizon. Since the introduction of the AWTCs and AWCR, over 260 qualified welders have registered on the AWCR, representing a 584% increase on the 38 people in Australia who held this qualification back in 2017.