RDA Hunter partner with Lockheed Martin to create future STEM workforce

Lockheed Martin Australia (LMA) and Regional Development Australia (RDA) Hunter have announced a strategic partnership aimed at developing high value, job ready skills needed to create and sustain advanced technologies for the defence industry.

LMA have committed an initial investment of $60,000 to support initiatives across secondary, vocational and tertiary education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) curriculum.

RDA Hunter will partner with LMA and TAFE NSW, under a new STEMStart initiative, to shape vocational education curriculum that will ensure a job-ready, highly skilled, high value workforce to support the industry technologies of the future. The program will enhance the vocational pathway for technical training to include critical skills in Cyber, ICT and programming and attract students to the expanding sector.

The announcement was made on 13 December 2018 at a Technology Expo at Fighter World, Williamstown which was attended by 300 students from 15 High Schools across the Hunter region.

Planes were moved out of the Fighter World hangar to accommodate exhibitors which included Milskil, Varley Group, BAE Systems, Boeing Australia, Defence Force Recruiting, Department of Defence, Pennant Training as well as TAFE and University of Newcastle.

RDA Hunter Chairman Mr John Turner welcomed the new partnership between RDA Hunter with LMA saying, “Defence projects such as the F-35 deliver significant economic impact in the Hunter, bringing next generation technology and high value, skilled jobs. RDA Hunters is delighted to collaborate with LMA to help STEM-skill students in preparation for these roles.”

We look forward to sharing our knowledge and expertise with LMA and connecting them with the regions wider Defence industry, education and government to help build the workforce they need, while providing Hunter students pathways to long-term career opportunities in the region”, he said.