Defence to train nuclear scientists for ‘exciting roles’ on AUKUS programme

Canberra: Students and public servants are being enticed with generous scholarships to study nuclear science and engineering so they can begin “exciting roles” on the massive AUKUS submarine programme.

Defence is scrambling to find hundreds of properly qualified staff for the mammoth task of acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine fleet with the help of the UK and US.

ABC News says they can reveal Defence is establishing a nuclear scholarship programme from next year, offering scholarships worth approximately $20,000 per student per year.

Next five years

Over the next five years Defence expects to offer over 300 scholarships and has launched a separate initiative to sponsor existing staff to undertake nuclear-related Masters courses.

“Participation in these programs is in direct support of the establishment of a nuclear-powered submarine capability in Australia,” the Defence Department stated in a recently placed advertisement.

“This opportunity would see successful graduates able to take on exciting roles in support of nuclear-powered submarines and/ or nuclear stewardship at the completion of their studies.”

“This is about developing a hightech workforce of Australians qualified to steward and deliver this important capability,” Defence Minister Peter Dutton said. In September Australia announced its intention to acquire at least eight nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership, but there have been widespread concerns about the lack of properly qualified staff to deliver the ambitious programme.