
For Sebastian and Emilia, the first step into a rewarding, high-impact engineering career has come faster than they ever imagined.
Just a few short months ago, they were cramming for Year 12 exams and pulling the odd shift in a local takeaway to earn some pocket money.
Today, they’re undertaking an honours degree in mechanical engineering with Flinders University while simultaneously gaining hands-on experience – and earning a steady income – as ASC engineering apprentices, helping to sustain the Royal Australian Navy’s submarine fleet.
The 18-year-olds are among nine young people to start a new five-year mechanical engineering degree apprenticeship with ASC in late February 2025. This unique training pathway involves learning on the job at ASC’s Osborne, South Australia, shipyard two days a week, and studying at Flinders’ central Adelaide or Tonsley campuses on the other three, with days at ASC increasing as the degree progresses.
“I was going to study mechanical engineering anyway,” says Sebastian. “Then I saw this opportunity and thought what a great way to get experience much sooner than in an ordinary degree.”
It was a similar thought process for Emilia, who aspires to become an engineering leader. “I found out about this opportunity through an open day at Flinders, and thought it was a great pathway to get the work experience that I know I’ll need to pursue a management role.”
The mechanical engineering degree apprenticeship is not the only innovative training pathway supported by ASC. The company also became an industry partner in the University of South Australia’s software engineering degree apprenticeship program in 2024.
For ASC Chief Nuclear and Capability Officer Alex Walsh, continued cross-sector collaboration is a must. “Growing the Australian workforce required to deliver AUKUS is a huge undertaking,” he says. “Partnerships with education providers, industry and governments at all levels are critical.”
Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Colin Stirling also sees the benefits. “Students will earn while they learn in real-world settings, providing an ideal launchpad
for careers in industries with critical skills shortages and producing highly skilled, industry-connected graduates.”
But for tomorrow’s workforce, perhaps Sebastian best captures the appeal: “It’s really awesome. I’m excited to start rotations to learn as much as I can and see what parts of the business really interest me.”
You can learn more about ASC’s Apprenticeship Program here.