Women in Defence – Build Your Future

Intake 7 commencing 18 November 2026 | Intake 8 commencing 8 March 2027

Ready to explore a career in the defence industry? No previous defence experience is required!!

PEER, in partnership with the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments, is offering the opportunity to launch your career through a 12-month, full-time, paid Certificate III in Defence Industry Pathways traineeship.

What you’ll get:
Combine TAFE study, practical experience and industry mentoring.

• Complete classroom learning at TAFE Regency Park in study blocks of 4 weekly increments where you will study an introduction to a diverse range of topics!
• Undertake three,12-week paid work placements with leading defence industry employers across South Australia such as BAE Systems, Babcock, ASC, Supashock, Axiom Engineering, Century Engineering, Shoal Group, Praetorian Aeronautics, Neomech, Kennewell Engineering, Aerobond and more! 
• Explore diverse career pathways including blue and white collar in areas such as: Engineering and manufacturing, IT, administration, logistics, procurement, supply chain, HR, CAD and much more! 
• Receive ongoing support from dedicated mentors, coaches and educators.
• Get paid throughout your traineeship, including annual leave, personal leave and superannuation.
• Build valuable industry connections and gain experience that can lead to ongoing employment in defence.
• You’ll have the opportunity to try different environments, discover your strengths and explore career pathways you may never have considered.

About you
We’re looking for women who are:

• Curious, motivated and open to learning new things.
• Reliable, resilient and committed to building a rewarding career.
• Comfortable using computers, with sound literacy and numeracy skills.
• Team-focused, with strong communication and a willingness to contribute.
• Safety-minded and committed to looking out for yourself and others.
• Genuinely interested in exploring a career in the defence industry whether that be in a white collar office environment, or you want to get your hands dirty in a blue collar environment or both!! 
• You’ll need a minimum P1 driver’s licence and reliable access to a vehicle, as placements may be across different locations in South Australia.

Eligibility & screening
Successful applicants must satisfactorily complete a National Police Clearance, Working with Children Check, Australian Government Baseline Security Check (Australian citizenship required), and pre-employment medical including drug and alcohol screening. 

Trainees are paid in accordance with the National Training Wage.

Your future starts here
The Defence Industry Pathways Program has built a strong reputation for developing new talent, with more than 100 trainees entering the program over the past three years and many graduates progressing into fulfilling careers within the defence industry.

Could you be our next success story?

For more information, contact Melanie Ryan at [email protected].

Don’t delay! Applications are being reviewed regularly and recruitment events will take place throughout September and October.