SMEs are now able to apply for grants of up to half a million dollars after Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price relaunched the Skilling Australia’s Defence Industry (SADI) Grants program.
The SADI program will deliver $39 million over the next three years, with $17 million per year in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, to support a skilled workforce in the defence industry sector.
The funding is part of the government’s $1 billion investment package to boost Australia’s defence industry.
The SADI program will fund activities including support for technical and trade skills training, improved human resources practices, apprenticeship supervision, and on the job training support.
Funding is also available for industry associations to facilitate training for defence industry small-to-medium businesses to meet their Defence capability training requirements.
“The development of a robust, resilient and internationally competitive defence industry is key to supporting Defence capability needs and will foster economic growth,” Minister Price said. “I encourage businesses nationwide to take advantage of this unique skills program.”
The program is a key initiative of the Government’s 2019 Defence Industry Skilling and STEM Strategy, and will be delivered through the Centre for Defence Industry Capability.