Shoalhaven STEMship Launch Addresses Youth Unemployment

The STEMship students will complete a Certificate II in Aeroskills over a 17-week period with an end goal of  50% apprenticeship and traineeship outcomes, primarily with the Shoalhaven Defence Industry Group.

Speaking about the mismatch between current and future job opportunities in the region and the skill sets of the Shoalhaven’s youth, Rob Pollock, Chair RDA Far South Coast, said, 

‘I can’t think of a more relevant or exciting opportunity not just for our participants, but for industry itself to grow its own needs...If you don’t invest in growing your own you're going to be left behind.’’  

The STEMship program identifies which industries have shortages, and provides an alternative pathway to employment for secondary school students and young people transitioning out of school, through a combination of on-the-job training and study at Aerospace Training Services.

Addressing the students, The Hon Dr Geoff Lee MP, NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, highlighted that there aren’t enough skilled people to keep up with the demand from the Defence Industry and other advanced manufacturing industries, 

‘...the reality is we just don’t have enough skilled people to do those jobs, so you are on the perfect path to actually developing those skills to get a job in the industry, and putting you on that lifelong career path.’

Funded by the NSW Government, the Shoalhaven STEMship program is the result of a collaboration between Regional Development Australia - Far South Coast (RDA FSC), RDA Hunter, Defence NSW, Training Services NSW and the Shoalhaven Defence Industry Group that aims to support job creation in regional NSW by providing a talent pool of work-ready employees for the Defence Industry.