The Submarine Institute of Australia (SIA) is helping to promote careers in submarines and the submarine industry by supporting the 2018 Subs in Schools National Final.
Subs in Schools is an initiative of the Re-Engineering Australia Foundation, of which the SIA is a gold sponsor and members of the SIA are judges for the final.
“Our support of the Subs in Schools National Final is another way the SIA is actively encouraging young Australians to pursue submarine careers at what is one of the most exciting times for submarines in Australia’s history,” SIA Executive Committee member and former Lieutenant Commander in the RAN Errika Meades said.
“It’s vital that school-age children who might be interested in a submarine career are provided with information about how to pursue such an opportunity.”
Meades, who has led a pilot submarine careers program on behalf of the SIA in four schools on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, was attracted to submarines in her youth and went on to serve in the RAN for 12 years.
“I remember as a 15-year-old my father took me to see an Oberon class submarine which had docked in Newcastle and from that point on, I wanted to join the Navy,” Meades said.
“Through the work I did as an integrated support engineer and the work I do now as part of the SIA committee, I’m keen to help other children – and girls in particular – take up similar opportunities.
“School children of today can look forward to serving in the new Future Submarines when they start entering service in the mid-2030s.
“The Subs in Schools National Final is a superb promotional vehicle for careers serving in submarines.”
Update:
This year's competition was dominated by girls who outnumbering the boys 60% to 40%. The girls also took 80% of the podium places.
"The tables have turned and marketing of STEM now needs to be focused on encouraging boys back to STEM career and educational options," Subs in Schools said in a statement.
The winners in each of the major classes were the following:
Submarine Class
- 1st Place Propulsion, Brighton Secondary School, SA.
- 2nd Place Black Marlin, Carlingford High School, NSW.
- 3rd Place Seawolf, Le Fevre High School, SA.
ROV Class
- 1st Place Leviathan Legion, Rochedale State High School, Qld.
- 2nd Place Sub Squad, Mitcham Girls High School, SA.
- 3rd Place Osprey, St John's Grammar, SA.
Spatial Design
- 1st Place Zaha, St Peters' Girls School, SA.
- 2nd Place Morelli, St Peters' Girls School, SA.