When Sean was working as an apprentice mechanical draftsman in Mount Gambier, he knew he wanted to build a career in engineering. But when a downturn in the local timber industry created job uncertainty, his pathway forward became unclear.
Defence had always interested Sean. With a family background in both military service and engineering, he was drawn to the scale, complexity and purpose of the sector. He had already tried to find a way in, but like many people at the start of their career, he found it difficult to access the right opportunity without existing industry experience.
The Defence Industry Pathways Program (DIPP) changed that.
Through DIPP, Sean relocated to Adelaide and began a Certificate III in Defence Industry Pathways. The program gave him structured training, practical experience and direct exposure to host employers across South Australia’s defence industry.
For Sean, the value of DIPP has been the opportunity to experience the industry from the inside. Across his placements, he has worked in areas including manufacturing, engineering, testing, quality assurance, process improvement and design. This exposure has helped him build technical capability, understand how different parts of the defence sector work together, and identify his future direction in mechanical engineering, design and defence capability development.
It has also helped him grow personally. Sean describes starting the program as quite introverted, but through DIPP he has built confidence in communication, networking and taking on technical challenges. He has developed strong industry connections, lasting friendships and a clearer sense of where he belongs.
One example of Sean’s initiative came during a placement where a manufacturing deadline was at risk. Under supervision, he helped design a jig and fixture to improve assembly speed, coordinated additional trainee support, developed processes and assisted others to contribute. The team met the deadline, improved productivity and created learning opportunities for other trainees.
Sean has also become a strong advocate for vocational pathways into defence. As a committee member of Kinect SA, he helps connect students, trainees, graduates and employers, while promoting the value of traineeships in an industry often associated with university pathways. His involvement has helped open new conversations about how programs like DIPP can support the future defence workforce.
Sean’s story shows that you do not need to have your whole career mapped out to take the next step. What matters is curiosity, commitment and a willingness to learn.
For anyone interested in engineering, advanced manufacturing, technology or defence, DIPP provides a practical way to gain real experience, build confidence and connect with employers in one of South Australia’s most important growth industries.
As Sean’s journey shows, the program is more than a qualification. It can be the bridge between wanting a career in defence and finding your place in it.
Ready to launch your career in defence? Visit Defence Industry Pathways Program (DIPP) | PEER
