Educators armed to inspire WA's future defence workforce
The WA Government is equipping educators with the tools to guide the next generation into the defence industry workforce, through the Educator Professional Development Day at the Indian Ocean Defence and Security (IODS) event today.
This full‑day program brings together teachers, vocational and training coordinators, career practitioners, and education leaders to explore emerging career opportunities across the defence and national security sectors.
Participants will engage directly with industry experts, take part in hands‑on workshops, and access practical resources to better support students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), trades, and advanced‑technology fields.
A key feature of the program is the Inside the Student Career Mindset session - an interactive workshop using Lego to explore what drives students' career choices. Educators will build and share ideas to uncover the skills, motivations and barriers shaping student success in defence and defence‑industry pathways, gaining valuable insight into student perspectives while highlighting critical capabilities such as problem‑solving, teamwork and resilience.
Another highlight is the Effective STEM Partnerships Workshop, delivered by Questacon - Australia's national science and technology centre. This session challenges participants with a STEM problem within a defence‑strategy context, to demonstrate how industry expertise can support real‑world STEM learning and strengthen school‑industry collaboration.
The Building the Future Workforce panel session will examine how WA is developing its defence and security workforce in line with national priorities, including discussions on key career pathways, workforce needs, and in‑demand STEM skills.
This initiative forms part of the broader IODS Careers Program, which supports workforce development and positions Western Australia to meet national defence priorities, including submarine capability and advanced manufacturing.
