New submariner workforce school for HMAS Stirling

The federal government has begun work on a new training facility at HMAS Stirling naval base in Western Australia to train the future submariner workforce.

The $200 million training school will complement training already underway in the United States and the United Kingdom and develop skills as:

• Communication Networks Operators
• Submariner Electrical Fitters
• Electronics Technicians
• Fixed and mobile plant mechanics
• Nuclear powered submarine electricians
• Nuclear powered submarine electronics technicians
• Nuclear powered submarine mechanics
• Nuclear powered submarine weapons and sensors network technicians
• And nuclear powered submarine electronic warfare network technicians.

A new generation of Navy Submariners is needed in the Australian Defence Force with the acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines through the AUKUS partnership.

The new facility will support the skilling of Australia’s submariner workforce, through local submarine crew training and certification for work on Virginia class submarines, which Australia will acquire and operate from the early 2030s.

More than $8 billion investment in infrastructure is earmarked for at HMAS Stirling.

Today’s announcement coincides with the launch of the “I am a Submariner” campaign across social media (pictured), to raise awareness about what a career as a submariner in the Navy entails and the range of conventional and nuclear-powered submarine roles and opportunities available.

The Chief of Navy, Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond said: “Our submariners are rightly regarded as some of the best in the world. The new Submarine Training Centre which is being built at HMAS Stirling will continue this proud tradition of highly skilled submariners well into the twenty-first century.

“This is a step forward for the Royal Australian Navy to operating and maintaining our future fleet of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.”

The Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh said skilled people were, and will remain Australia’s most important defence capability.

Keogh said: “The roll out of this new advertising campaign, coupled with the new training facility at HMAS Stirling, shows the government is diving right in to grow and skill our Defence workforce.”

Picture: Defence/I am a submariner social media campaign