Aus Defence & Industry Join Forces To Boost Skills

Defence And Industry Join Forces To Boost Skills And Training

Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Bruce Billson today announced the establishment of the Joint Defence-Industry Training Task Force, an initiative recommended in the Defence and Industry Policy Statement 2007.

Chaired by the Head of Industry Division in the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), Mr Kerry Clarke, the task force comprises senior personnel across Australia's leading defence companies, key industry bodies, Australian Defence Force (ADF) training commands, and the Department of Defence.

Mr Billson said the joint task force currently is analysing several initiatives in joint training for defence industry, the ADF and the Department of Defence.

"These initiatives will play an important role in increasing and improving training, education, recruitment and retention in the wider Defence environment," he said.

"Some of the concepts under consideration by the task force include pooled apprenticeship programs, graduate schemes and personnel exchanges between industry and Defence."

The aim is to improve awareness and enhance career prospects and to promote general recruitment in the wider defence sector.

"The Joint Defence-Industry Training Task Force is an important advance to secure a capable and adaptable workforce for the needs of the defence civil and Service sectors," Mr Billson said.

The joint task force has a wide diversity of specialisations, skills and experience. Consequently it is able to make well-informed strategic training recommendations to shape the skills and training of Australia's wider defence sector now and into the future.

The joint task force is set to report its recommendations in late August 2007.

ENDS

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