• TAFE SA Principal Lecturer in Creative Studies Mark Wilson with screen and media students. Credit: Juan Photography 2013
    TAFE SA Principal Lecturer in Creative Studies Mark Wilson with screen and media students. Credit: Juan Photography 2013
  • Credit: Defence
    Credit: Defence
Close×

A collaboration between Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) and TAFE SA will result in Australia’s first Simulation and Training Diploma offered from 2018. The move is a welcome step as simulation and Live Virtual and Constructive (LVC) becomes a prominent feature in ADF training, particularly for 5th generation platforms already coming into service, with far too few skilled personnel in country to support the effort.

The 12-month course is specifically designed to develop graduates with the high end graphics skills required to build defence-specific 3D virtual worlds. Rheinmetall’s Adelaide-based operations focus exclusively on electronic solutions for a range of customers including DST at Edinburgh and Army.

The course builds skills in the creation of 3D virtual world building, mechanical props and supporting multimedia chiefly for defence support industries. The additional skills learned can also be applied in technical art and animation.

RDA managing director Gary Stewart said TAFE SA had shown a great deal of innovation in designing this course “so that together we can develop graduates that have the skills we need” to grow Australia’s defence industry.

“Rheinmetall will facilitate internships and industry content and we expect significant numbers of graduates will be selected for employment with us and other Defence and SA industry employers,” Stewart said.

He said students undertaking the course would be able to launch their careers as digital artists in the simulation and training industry.

TAFE SA earlier this year partnered with SA’s three public universities and peak industry body the Defence Teaming Centre to help deliver a defence-ready, and especially maritime-ready, workforce with skills in engineering, information and computer technology, and a range of trades.

TAFE SA’s education manager for digital media Liz Lowe said TAFE SA had been closely guided by Rheinmetall in tailoring the Simulation and Training Diploma to meet the needs of the defence industry.

“We are thrilled to be increasing the opportunities for our students to work on authentic workplace projects during their study and boost their chances of employment,” Lowe said.

“This qualification will give students a sound skills base in a range of specialised, technical competencies that are required in defence simulation and training applications and employment in defence support industries.”

In a plenary session on Plan Jericho and the role of Live Virtual and Constructive (LVC) training in a fifth generation Air Force at the Australian Simulation Congress 2017, Director Air Force Ranges Darren Manser raised concern that “a persistent pool of appropriately skilled personnel to support LVC training was also non-existant”.

“I want a persistent workforce of people who can develop scenarios, manage accreditation, and take care of modelling and the security of facilities. That workforce does not exist in the scale needed both now and in the future.”

At the same event, Bohemia Interactive Simulation (BISim) managing director Ryan Stephenson told ADM the ADF would benefit from the establishment of a simulation career stream, such that simulation expertise within the ADF is not only retained but grown.

“There are some excellent proponents of simulation within Defence who understand the area very well but this isn’t consistent across the entire organisation.”

Students can apply now for the 12-month Diploma program in Training and Simulation incorporating Diploma of Screen and Media (CUA51015).

comments powered by Disqus