On Monday 23 June, PEER proudly hosted a welcome event to mark the commencement of the second intake of the Defence Industry Pathways Program (DIPP).
The celebration brought together 18 new trainees, along with their families, friends, current and prospective South Australian host employers, program partners, and the PEER team.
Trainees will have the opportunity to work with leading employers across Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine, naval shipbuilding, and sustainment enterprises. This important program provides a traineeship in a critical industry, designed to equip participants with the skills and experience needed to thrive in the Australia’s rapidly growing defence workforce. Throughout the program, trainees will gain exposure to a broad range of disciplines, including manufacturing and engineering, computing, technical drawing and CAD, warehousing and logistics, procurement and supply chain, and project scheduling.
The event was attended by several key leaders from across the defence and training sectors, including CAPT Angela Bond, RAN (CNSS), Dominic Calderazzo from the Australian Submarine Agency; Callan Markwick from the Department of State Development; Erin Gillard and Jade Langley from Babcock, and Nick Howie from TAFE SA. Their presence underscored the importance of growing a skilled workforce for the future of the defence industry.
The new cohort of trainees shared their enthusiasm for the journey ahead.
“I’m really looking forward to the learning aspect of the program, building up my skills, gaining confidence, and getting the chance to work on warships,” said Sean, a trainee from Mount Gambier. “I’m hoping to gain solid hands-on experience and secure a nice placement that sets me up for a stable career.”
Litica, another trainee in the program, reflected on the significance of the opportunity.
“I’m feeling excited and a little nervous, this is a big career opportunity for me, so there are a lot of emotions today. I’m looking forward to meeting new people and trying new things. Once I complete the program, I hope to have a career in the maritime side of the industry, ideally working on submarines and warships for the Navy.”
PEER is proud to support the next generation of defence industry talent and thanks all attendees for helping to make the welcome event a memorable milestone for this group of future leaders.
For more information about the Defence Industry Pathways Program, click here. PEER’s next intake is scheduled to commence on 7 October 2025.
