Latest News from ADA-Vic

Defence is modernising Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) membership processes, with the latest DISP Membership Portal capability release enabling self-management services for existing DISP companies.

The capability release will also uplift the cyber security assessment process to align with the Australian Cyber Security Centre Essential Eight mitigation strategies.

This follows the initial release of the Portal in December 2023, which allowed companies to complete and lodge membership applications online.

Under the Defence Industry Development Grants Program, up to $100,000 is available to assist eligible small to medium enterprises to establish and maintain security accreditation and controls, in line with the DISP – including cyber security.

Defence Chief Security Officer, Peter West, said the latest capability release would make it easier for industry to manage their membership.

The DISP Portal release planned for Quarter 4, 2024 will deliver fully digitised member services, including a full suite of membership self-reporting and self-service tools, and strengthen DISP compliance capabilities.

For more information on the Defence Industry Security Program, visit https://www.defence.gov.au/security/industry

Read full press release>

Victorian Government Grants to Support Hanwha Defence Australia’s Local Supply Chain

Victorian Government Minister for Jobs and Industry Natalie Hutchins MP visited the Hanwha Defence Australia stand at the 2024 Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition to announce the successful recipients of rounds 3 and 4 of the Supply Chain Uplift Program (SCUP).

Funding of $827,000has been awarded to Victorian businesses to help them better compete for and win projects as part of the supply chain for Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA)and other major defence businesses – creating new jobs, export opportunities,and attracting investment to Victoria.

The successful companies in these two rounds includes:

Amiga Engineering P/L
Anywise Consulting
Brockman Engineering
Copamate
Corvus Technology Solutions
Diamond Defence
Electric Motor Power
NanoCube
Parish Engineering
Secure Bits
Sutton Tools
Tickford Racing

Read full press release>

Melbourne Defence Ball 2024 - Sat 16 Nov

Hi ADA-Vic members,

The Melbourne Defence Ball 2024 will be on Saturday 16th November, at the Melbourne Town Hall. We already have secured the services of the very talented Australian Army Band and soon will finalise a ‘drawcard’ Master of Ceremonies and other quality entertainment.

I would like to invite all ADA Vic members attend the event.

Tickets are on sale at the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1161416?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwlbu2BhA3EiwA3yXyuzdYaBFl53Bf_MRQfuELYvWakVlEA-5BB8mFX4yENXu584n6OQmYqhoCSBkQAvD_BwE

The purpose MDB is to promote a strong culture of community throughout the Defence enterprise across Victoria, promote a positive Defence reputation to the wider community and support selected charities.

The MDB Committee has selected of our nominated beneficiaries. In 2024, we will share the Ball proceeds with three worthy organisations, who each directly support veterans and veterans’ families:

• Australian National Arts Museum (ANVAM)

• Goorambat Veterans Retreat

• Operation Soul Surf (Affiliated with Young Veterans)

Regards,

COL Andy Maclean
President
Melbourne Defence Ball

The EMDG program provides grants to Australian small and medium enterprises and their representative bodies to:

market and promote their goods and services globally
undertake export training

The EMDG Round 4 will be the next round to open for applications. There will be different opening dates for representative bodies and each tier. The times and dates are: 

Representative bodies, applications open AEDT 10am on 6 November
Tier 1 – ready to export, applications open AEDT 10am on 12 November
Tier 2 – exporting within existing markets, applications open AEDT 10am on 12 November
Tier 3 – exporting to new key markets, applications open AEDT 10am on 12 November.

For detailed information on Round 4, read the Round 4: EMDG Grant Guidelines here.

The JOSCAR-AU system was established following an initiative led by a growing number of prime contractors as registered buyers together with the Commonwealth Government.

JOSCAR-AU is a cross-sector collaborative solution that reduces the time, cost, resources and duplication currently needed to provide information to major prime customers. Holding common supplier information in a central system, the JOSCAR-AU accreditation system allows information to be accessed by all participating buying organisations.

JOSCAR-AU is designed to make the process of pre-qualification or accreditation as efficient as possible – saving your company a significant amount of the time, effort and cost associated with working for multiple clients.

Hellios enables more effective compliance with client requirements for business through a single process. Your initial registration will determine the level of pre-qualification or accreditation that your clients require, based on an automated risk profile.

Expert advice is provided throughout the process to guide you including identifying potential business improvement opportunities that may increase your competitive advantage.

Registration on JOSCAR-AU is either by invitation from your registered JOSCAR-AU buyer or via self nomination. If your buyer has asked you to complete the JOSCAR-AU questionnaire, they will contact Hellios directly on your behalf. Hellios will then process this request and send a link to the questionnaire for you to complete. If you would like to self nominate, please reach out at joscar@hellios.com.au.

BAESA/GAP Industry Training: Estimating For Defence

BAE Systems Australia and the Global Access Program are pleased to once again offer Estimating & Pricing Industry Training during 2024.

Delivering competitive and defendable proposals for Defence requires a variety of estimating techniques to build robust, credible and defendable Basis of Estimates. Learn how to challenge your cost base, supplier quotes, estimates and price, and submit a compliant proposal that meets customer requirements, represents value for money, and can survive a cost investigation.

Estimating For Defence is a two day course developed by Estimating & Pricing (E&P) at BAE Systems Australia, and delivered in partnership with the Global Access Program (GAP).

To register, please click on the BAE Systems supplier portal link now - http://BAESystemsSupplierPortal.icn.org.au

If you require any further information, please contact Megan Allan directly on megan.allan@baesystems.au.

Open to Industry partners Based in Australia, Canada, and the UK

The Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) aims to coalesce and expand the defense industrial base (DIB) in support of the Manufacturing, Capability Expansion, and Investment Prioritization Directorate (MCEIP) critical sectors and additional areas of interest. To align with the recent modification to the definition of Domestic Source for Title III of the Defense Production Act, and in keeping with the MCEIP vision of delivering a resilient U.S. supply chain and workforce able to respond in times of national security crisis, DIBC is excited to announce that we are opening membership to Industry partners in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. This increased level of collaboration will aid the DIBC in achieving MCEIP’s mission and vision.

The application to become a DIBC member can be found here. International members will need to apply for a NCAGE Code and UEI prior to joining DIBC. To apply for a NCAGE code, each organization will need to register at https://sam.gov/. Instructions on how to register can be found here.

If you have questions about the application process, please feel free to reach out to dibconsortium@ati.org.

SME Connect Programs

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has announced a $20 million investment to provide small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with greater access to vital research and development (R&D) opportunities to accelerate their growth.

The funding will allow CSIRO’s SME Connect team to support up to 750 SMEs through a range of programs and initiatives that provide facilitation, training, dollar-matched funding and support to start-ups and SMEs seeking to engage in company-led research projects.

One of the programs being supported is SME Connects flagship program, CSIRO Kick-Start. Since its inception in 2017, the Kick-Start program has facilitated over 280 company-led R&D projects, with alumni companies collectively holding a market value exceeding $2 billion.

Dr Doug Hilton, CSIRO’s Chief Executive, emphasised the significance of this investment and the transformative impact it would have for Australia’s critical SME sector.

The Victorian Land Systems Fund – Supply Chain Uplift Program will support Victorian defence industry businesses to work with Hanwha Defense Australia (Hanwha) as part of its supply chain. The program will help build businesses’ capabilities so they can help Hanwha deliver the Commonwealth Government’s $1 billion Land 8116 Self-Propelled Howitzer program.

Funding will support eligible Victorian businesses to:

gain relevant accreditations and meet industry specific compliance requirements
prepare tenders
undertake minor facilities upgrades and equipment fit outs
develop new or enhance current defence products or services
undertake defence R&D
participate in trade missions to pursue collaboration and export opportunities.

Businesses must engage with Hanwha and receive its support before applying.

Applications to the Victorian Land Systems Fund Supply Chain Uplift Program are now open and close on 30 June 2024 or until funds have been exhausted.

Defence Industry Development Grants Program

The Defence Industry Development Grants Program (the program) will award grants over four years from 2024-25 to 2027-28. The program was announced as part of the Defence Industry Development Strategy.

The objective of the program is to build the industrial base Australia needs to achieve Defence outcomes in areas of strategic priority.

The Defence Industry Development Grants Program funds four distinct grant opportunity streams tailored to address the program outcomes:

Sovereign Industrial Priorities
Skilling
Exports
Security.

These four grants opportunities will be assessed in batches. We will regularly update the closing dates for each batch on this page. You can apply at any time.

All projects are due to be completed by 31 Mar 2028.

About the streams

The Sovereign Industrial Priorities stream will assist eligible small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to purchase manufacturing plant and equipment which is used directly to develop and/or deliver programs that are in line with the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIPs) described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy.

The Skilling stream helps Australian defence industry to upskill and train in priority trade, technical and professional skillsets to develop a workforce with the right mix of qualified and experienced personnel to meet Defence requirements. The program will enhance the capacity and capability of Australian defence industry workforce to deliver SDIPs described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy.

The Exports stream provides support for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to overcome export barriers and help defence industry build scale and competitiveness in defence capability priority areas as identified by the SDIPs described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy.

The Security stream helps Australian defence industry improve and maintain security in priority areas as identified by the SDIPs and in line with the Defence Industry Security Program.

More info >

Industry Growth Program - Support for Innovative SMEs to Commercialise and Grow their Business

The program supports innovative small and medium enterprises undertaking commercialisation and/or growth projects within the National Reconstruction Fund priority areas through advisory services and opportunities for matched grant funding. Minor changes or improvements to existing products or services are not considered innovative.

You will be connected to an Industry Growth Program Adviser who will provide tailored advice to support your commercialisation and/or growth project.

Once you have received this advice, you may also be able to apply for:

grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to support early-stage commercialisation projects
grants of $100,000 to $5 million for commercialisation and growth projects.

More info >

Australian Space Industry Capability Database

The Australian Space Industry Capability database will open for industry submissions from mid-July. Companies can upload information on their:

• Location

• Capability

• Workforce

The database has been developed by SIAA and is supported by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), the Australian Space Agency, the Office of Defence Industry Support and SmartSat CRC.

Australia Partner Network

Leidos Australia is focused on working with Australian Industry for delivery of all of our projects. We know the importance of supporting the growth of sovereign capability and would like to work with more Australian businesses at all stages of our delivery lifecycle.

We encourage Australian companies, who are interested in working with us on the opportunities identified above or on other business requirements as they arise, to complete the following registration form.

In your submission, you should highlight your experience with any relevant Defence, Intelligence, ICT and cyber capabilities and technologies. Our team will then be in touch to identify potential next steps.

ODIS provides a range of grants to support defence industry businesses. These grants help Australian small and medium enterprises grow to meet Defence capability needs and join global defence industry supply chains.

Click here to learn more about available grants

The ODIS Defence Business Readiness Tool (DBRT) is a platform used by our Industry Engagement Team to assess the Defence Readiness of Australian Small and Medium Enterprises. The DBRT is the first step in the journey to becoming a supplier to Defence.

To use this secure tool you must have an account. You can either sign in with an existing account or create a new one. You will need to provide your Australian Business Number (ABN) when registering your account.

Get Defence Ready with DBRT 2.0 and unlock the true potential of your SME within the Defence industry!