Specific skills gaps may threaten Australia's defence supply

Skills Australia has released a preliminary discussion paper that highlights some potential skills gaps in the Australian defence supply industry.

However the Paper is confident that most of the skills the industry will need will be available.

The Paper's analysis suggests that "specific skills gaps may arise in electronics/electrical engineering and in some specialised software engineering skills".

In order to address these issues, Skills Australia suggests that increasing the number of high school students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics, to influence their selection of tertiary level studies and career paths,

There is also the suggestion that career pathways into defence supply industries could be enhanced to make them more visible and attractive to prospective employees.

The Paper is, of course, the result of recognition that defence supply is just another sector that will be competing for skills in this country over the coming years.

Skills Australia intends to hold consulatations across the country during March. But public submissions are also invited, as long as they are submitted by 5 April.

The final report on strategy is scheduled for release in June this year.

For more detailed information on the Discussion Paper click here.