4,000 more uni places for AUKUS workforce

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The Hon Richard Marles MP

Deputy Prime Minister

Minister for Defence

Media contact

dpm.media@defence.gov.au

02 6277 7800


The Hon Jason Clare MP

Minister for Education

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1 September 2023

Universities can now apply for additional Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) targeted at graduates in STEM courses.

The additional CSPs are designed to attract more students to train in engineering, mathematics, chemistry and physics and meet the needs of the AUKUS submarine program.

The Albanese Government will invest $128.5 million over four years to fund the extra 4,000 university places.

Of the 4,000 additional places, 800 will go to South Australian universities, as part of the Cooperation Agreement to support the construction of the submarines in Adelaide.

This will increase the STEM workforce supply and develop the advanced technical skills needed to work on nation-changing projects.

To find out more about the application process, visit the Department of Education’s website.

Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles:

“At the centre of the success of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines will be the people who build them.

"The Albanese Government is committed to investing in young Australians and skilling our future workforce.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“We need more young Australians studying STEM subjects and developing the skills we need for the AUKUS program.

“These additional university places will give more Australians a crack at a career in STEM.”

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