Defence Industries

Ms LUETHEN (King) (14:39): My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister please update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is creating a skilled workforce to meet unprecedented demand for jobs in defence, space and cyber?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (14:39): It is a great pleasure for me to get this question from the member for King, who, like all members on this side of the house, is acutely aware of the really important need for our students to have the opportunity to take advantage of some of these extraordinary defence contracts and the fact that we have the Australian Space Agency, significant growth in our space industry and the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre here in Adelaide, with significant growth there.

Indeed, last week we had the space, cyber and defence expo for school students at Lot Fourteen. More than 500 students from 33 schools across South Australia came to Lot Fourteen to participate in that expo and to learn about exciting careers in defence, space and cyber. It was a brilliant time, an extraordinary week, to be able to showcase careers in these areas. The announcement of the AUKUS alliance was an extraordinary time to have people focus on the opportunities for South Australia, absolutely locked in now as the defence state in Australia for decades to come and with thousands of jobs secured for today, tomorrow and the years ahead.

The expo was an amazing opportunity for students to be inspired by, to meet with, to hear from and to learn from some of the state's leading innovators. We know that Lot Fourteen is attracting some of the world's leading innovators and companies in high-growth sectors across defence, space and cyber. There are more South Australians now employed than at any other time in our history, and last week's event showed the next generation that those jobs of the future in very exciting industries are right here in South Australia.

Students and teachers explored the exciting developments at the vibrant innovation hub that is Lot Fourteen. They enjoyed tours of the Cyber Collaboration Centre and indeed the Space Discovery Centre. They had interactive sessions with employers and industry representatives about pathways to future careers. They also engaged directly with defence, space and cyber industry experts to learn about the skills and the knowledge they require for the jobs of the future.

At the moment, this government is enhancing careers education by bringing industry and schools closer together to improve outcomes. By engaging with schools, industry—and I thank them—plays a key role in helping us build a pipeline of skilled workers to meet that unprecedented demand. For students, the opportunity to explore the world of work by connecting with industry and employers supports them to develop in-demand skills, make informed decisions about their future and transition successfully to full-time employment or study when they leave school.

Another way we are supporting students to think about their career sooner is through the new Student Pathways website. I encourage all members, families and students to check it out at studentpathways.sa.edu.au. The message for young South Australians is that it is your career, your pathway, your choice. This website is the first student-focused pathways website of its kind for school students from any sector here in South Australia. It offers a unique opportunity for students and parents to think about possible careers, and it empowers young people to take the lead in their own career journey.

It supports students to discover pathways for study into jobs and careers in high-growth industries—potentially careers those students may not have heard about or thought of before—based on their skills, aptitude and disposition, helping them to find a pathway to a career that will give them great joy in the years ahead. It will also help them to start building a portfolio of their achievements through the new World of Work Challenge. The website is available to school students from all sectors, so I encourage all students to start thinking about this.

I was also pleased to speak to more than 500 Aboriginal students, leaders, scientists and thought leaders at the STEM Aboriginal student conference on Friday last week. Those students are also keenly engaged and interested in this exciting future, where space, cyber and defence industries will have a significant demand for workforce. Our school systems, particularly in public education, under the Marshall Liberal government are getting ready for that and giving those students the opportunities for pathways to success.