What does a future in STEM look like beyond the classroom? This term, our AVISTA Program gave students the chance to find out through a series of in-person career events, connecting them with industry leaders and showcasing the exciting opportunities available in the defence sector.
Through hands-on experiences, real-world insights and meaningful conversations, students saw first-hand how their classroom learning can translate into a future defence industry career.
The series included two career showcases in Brisbane and Newcastle, delivered in partnership with Aviation Australia and the Space Industry Association of Australia, alongside a dedicated evening event in Perth held with the UWA Defence and Security Institute.
Brisbane Career Showcase
Our Brisbane Career Showcase welcomed students and teachers for a day of hands-on STEM exploration.
The event brought together diverse representatives from Brisbane’s aviation, space and defence industries, allowing students to gain insights into the science and technology behind careers in these sectors.
Through discussions with industry professionals and hands-on activities, the event created a strong foundation for understanding how an interest in STEM subjects can lead to exciting, real-world careers.
Event Partners:
Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Program, Australian Space Agency, CSIRO, Fizzics Education, iLAuNCH, Insitu Pacific, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Stralis Aircraft, Boeing, UQ Space, & Virgin Australia.
Newcastle Career Showcase
Over 250 students and teachers joined the Newcastle Career Showcase for an energetic exploration of STEM opportunities in the defence sector.
From VR flight simulation and 3D printing, to exploring the CSIRO Mobile Mission Operations Centre, students were able to gain first-hand experience with some of the cutting-edge technologies that help power the defence industry.
Event Partners:
Aldrin Family Foundation, Andreas Antoniades, Australian Space Agency, Av-Comm Space & Defence, Aviation Australia, CSIRO, edgedVR, Engineers Australia, FabLabs, Fizzics Education, Hunter Combat Robotics, Hunter Innovation and Science Hub, iLAuNCH Trailblazer, NSW Department of Education, NU Teams by University of Newcastle, SOLIDWORKS by Dassault Systèmes, Space Industry Association of Australia, and Sydney Interplanetary Rover Initiative.
WA STEM Defence Industry Futures
Our Perth event brought together students, parents and educators for an interactive evening focused on defence industry STEM careers in Western Australia.
Hosted at The University of Western Australia, the event combined a live industry panel with hands-on experiences, including exhibitor booths, one-on-one conversations with industry representatives, and live VR and robotics demonstrations.
The evening opened with an address from Linda Dawson, Head of the Office of Defence Industries at Department of the Premier and Cabinet of WA, followed by a panel moderated by Jasmin Diab (Global Nuclear Security Partners) featuring Ashley Schneider (H&B Defence), Johan Jankowitz (Austal), and Cameron Skeggs (ASC).
Event Partners:
Austal, ASC, Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, Defence Nexus with Curtin University, Global Nuclear Security Partners, H&B Defence, Jobs and Skills WA, and the UWA Defence and Security Institute.
These events were delivered as a key part of our AVISTA Program, a free, curriculum-linked initiative giving students in Years 7–12 hands-on insight into STEM and defence industry careers.
