Expansion of Career Taster Program for defence industry
The WA Government is delivering $3 million to expand the Career Taster Program (CTP) to include more opportunities for students to experience the defence industries sector.
The CTP provides opportunities for year 9 students to participate in practical programs across different industries to help them make informed decisions about post-school career opportunities.
The expanded defence industries program will focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields in high demand - including engineering, trades, digital and ICT, and program management - and provide practical support to help students build skills.
Running over 12 months, the expansion will include virtual and in-person activities such as in-school events and online engagement, personalised skills assessments, career matching, learning and development for job-readiness, interactive e-learning modules, mentorship with industry professionals, connections with defence primes, virtual work experience, and career events with defence industry employers.
It will build on a similar program that successfully runs in South Australia.
The CTP has been running in Western Australia since 2022 and in 2025 reached over 50 per cent of the Western Australian year 9 cohort or about 18,375 students.
As the program has evolved, other secondary students have benefited from the CTP, with more than 8,100 secondary students from other years taking part in a CTP activity in 2025.
Since 2022 more than 62,000 year 9 students have participated in career exploration activities in priority industries such as building and construction, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, and the care sector.
