BAE Systems sign on as key partner for Findon Technical College
30 November 2022
BAE Systems Australia has been named as a key employment partner for South Australia’s first technical college at Findon.
Aligning with the State Government’s Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering industry focus, the partnership between BAE Systems and the Findon Technical College will ensure a pipeline of skilled workers for the defence and naval shipbuilding industries.
The College will offer years 10-12 students the chance to learn in world-class facilities and will provide career pathways to welders, fabricators, computer assisted designers, programmers, robotic technicians and more.
Head of Resourcing and Early Careers at BAE Systems, Georgette Elston, said the College is important to fulfil workforce growth and the needs of manufacturers.
“Technical colleges provide a great foundation for industry to engage with students, provide early hands-on exposure to new industrial technologies and support career connections,” said Ms Elston.
“BAE Systems Australia is already working closely to support curriculum design and development of employer programs including school-based traineeships and apprenticeships.”
The technical colleges will provide a bridge for students between education and the workforce, addressing critical skills shortages, and training young people in the technical skills they need to succeed in the modern workplace.
Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer MP, said the colleges were part of the government’s long-term plan for meeting the skills needs of the future.
“Findon Technical College will be the first of our technical colleges to open and will set a standard for excellence in its design, learning environment and provision of skilled-based training,” said Minister Boyer.
“The BAE commitment demonstrates the importance of technical colleges in supporting industry to meet the workforce challenges and to build upon what the state needs for its long-term economic future.”
The Findon Technical College will open in 2024 and will be the first of five technical colleges in the state, with other sites planned for the Heights School in the north-east and Tonsley TAFE in the southern suburbs, as well as two regional colleges in Port Augusta and Mt Gambier.
All five colleges will be operational by 2026.
