Latest News from ADA-Vic

Hi there,

Last Friday, 11th November 2022, ADA-Vic staff paused to remember those that served and fell for us. We recognize Australia would not be the country we are today, without the ultimate sacrifice of the men and women of the Australian Defence Force.

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them"

When: Friday, 9th December 2022, 8.30am to 7pm

Where: Medway Golf Club

Tickets: ADA Members

Morning Networking Session - $50.00

Full Day Golf & Networking - $130.00

Non-Members

Morning Networking Session - $75.00

Full Day Golf & Networking - $195.00

This will be an enjoyable and informative day with the opportunity to meet others in Defence and we look forward to seeing you there.

Military Communications and Information Systems (MilCIS) Conference Opened

Yesterday, the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Defence, opened MiLCIS 2022

The conference is held in November each and facilitates a continuing dialogue between Department of Defence employees, contractors, industry and researchers to discuss current and developing technological capabilities, project initiatives, and operational requirements.

In addition to keynote presentations, technical presentations, panel discussions and tutorials, MilCIS features an exposition that provides an opportunity for exhibitors to demonstrate new technologies and promote their products and services to attendees.

MilCIS is the only Australian conference that focuses strategically on the crucial technologies, products, systems and services associated with military communications and information systems.

‘Defence and Industry Sovereign Capabilities for the Defence and Security of Australia’

The Defence and Security Symposium (DSS) is an annual event which brings together participants from Defence, Industry and Academia to exchange ideas and information and to connect with decision-makers from Defence, Academic Researchers and industry capability developers.

This symposium aims to bring together subject matter experts from Government, Industry, and Academia to discuss the development of Defence and Industry Sovereign Capability for the Defence and Security of Australia.

Some of the key capabilities identified include:

Robotics, Autonomous Systems and Artificial Intelligence
Power and Energy/ Green Hydrogen
Information Warfare and Cyber Capabilities
Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
Advanced and Networked Sensing
Health, Nutrition and Technology Driven Training
Quantum Technology for Sensing and Imaging, Communication and Cryptography and Computing and Simulation
Space Technologies.

This is an invitation to Academics, Defence research institutions, commercial organisations, and Military Personnel to attend and/ or offer papers in the field of developing Australia’s Defence and Industry Sovereign capability and associated disciplines.

LOCATION: Deakin Downtown

Level 12, Tower 2, 727 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3008

TIME: 10.00am – 3.30pm

DATE: Thursday, 1st December 2022

KEYNOTE & SPECIAL CATEGORY SPEAKERS

The symposium is hosting a number of keynotes and special category speakers drawn from R&D organisations, Academia, Defence Services and Industry.

POSTER PRESENTATION

Poster presentations will be displayed for the duration of the conference. Researchers are encouraged to submit their work in the form of a research poster.

Presenters may bring their own laptop if they wish to provide a live demonstration as part of their poster.

Abstracts and Posters should be sent via email to a.arogbonlo@deakin.edu.au, no later than Monday 21st Nov 2022.

REGISTRATION

Attendance to the DSS symposium is free of cost.

For catering purposes, it is necessary for delegates to register using an on-line registration form, which can be accessed on the website:

SYMPOSIUM COMMITTEE

From Defence:  

The Commonwealth Government lays out defence strategy in the federal budget with defence spending set to increase 8 per cent over the financial year, rising above 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) over the forward estimates. The budget includes new measures aimed at shoring up Australia’s relationships with its Indo-Pacific partners, enhancing the nation’s manufacturing sector and prioritising Veterans, including:

MQ-28A Ghost Bat makes its debut in project DEF 6014 Phase 2, with Defence set to acquire an additional seven aircraft, making a fleet of 10. The total approved budget is $452 million, with $220 million to be spent in 2022-23 to stand up production of the aircraft.
about $1 billion of the National Reconstruction fund is set to grow advanced manufacturing and up to $3 billion to accelerate its Powering Australia Plan to invest in clean energy component manufacturing.
$485.5 million to fund higher education places in identified areas of national priority, including defence, which are currently facing skills shortages. The Commonwealth is also funding a further 180,000 fee-free TAFE places.
Land 8116 to acquire Hanwha's Huntsman self-propelled artillery, along with ammunition resupply vehicles and weapon locating radar. The total project budget is $1.3 billion, with $244 million to be spent in 2022-23. See more here, here and here.

Defence appoints Melbourne-based company, Adecco Australia, as the new recruitment partner to deliver Australian Defence Force targets. The new partnership with Adecco will focus on redefining how recruitment efforts can be modernised in a hyper competitive labour market. See more here.

Other News:

Nominations are now open for the AVALON 2023 Innovation Awards. Cash prizes for the SME Innovation Award and Young Innovator Award will increase to $50,000 each to encourage local innovation at a critical time in Australia’s industrial and strategic development. See more here.

Varley Rafael Australia (VRA), who’s headquarters are in Melbourne, have been contracted by the Government to deliver Spike LR2 missile for Land 400 Phase 3. See more here.
Melbourne-based company SPEE3D is demonstrating its WarpSPEE3D printer at Project Convergence, showcasing the benefits of Additive Manufacturing technology to several nations, including the company’s partner the British army. See more here.
Leidos has announced the completed acquisition of Cobham Aviation Services Australia’s Special Mission business. The business will be integrated into and operate as part of Leidos Australia. See more here.
Quickstep has secured an $803,000 grant to develop intelligent composite hydrogen storage solutions and new tank designs. Quickstep has facilities in Sydney, Geelong, Melbourne and Dallas. See more here.

Australian R&D powers the future of Artificial Intelligence in Melbourne. Fishermans Bend, Melbourne is the first Boeing site to use autonomous mobile collaborative robots since being introduced two years ago. See more here.
Melbourne-based company Applied EV formalise autonomous vehicle agreement with Oxbotica in a landmark agreement to further enhance the companies' respective technologies. See more here.
RUAG Australia, has been rebranded to Rosebank Engineering. The name change restores the well-known Australian brand to the global Defence Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO). Rosebank Engineering will continue to operate from sites in Victoria and across Australia. See more here.
Amaero announces they will build a titanium alloy powders plant in the United Arab Emirates supported by investment funds made possible by the country’s defence offsets program. See more here.
The UK Ministry of Defence has set up an International Fund for Ukraine with support from global companies. The Australian defence industry has an opportunity to support Ukraine and make a bid for funding via an Expression of Interest (EOI). Submissions will close at 0900 GMT 14 November 2022. Attached is the EOI. Companies are encouraged to contact UK MOD for any specific EOI questions. For more information, see attached. Tender template attached.
Attached is the ADM’s list of Defence tenders.

Attached is the TDA Information for Companies 2022.

Defence Industry Support Tools 

The Office of Defence Industry Support has several tools to support defence SMEs. The Defence Business Readiness Tool, the Digital Readiness Assessment Tool, and the Cyber Security Assessment Tool.  

Upcoming Domestic Events:  

Reoccurring 2022 - Soldier On Coffee Catch Up Victoria. See more here.
24 November 2022 – AIDN Young Achiever Award. See more here.
28 – 30 November Defence Human Sciences Symposium. See more here.
1 December 2022 – ADM Space Summit. See more here.

1 Feb – 2022 ADM Congress. See more here.
28 February - 5 March 2023 – The AVALON Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition. See more here.

Links to Grant and other Programs:  

Victorian Government

Please Note: This update is produced every two weeks by the Defence and Aerospace, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. The date of this update was 4th November 2022.

In partnership with the Victorian State Government, Lockheed Martin Australia manages a secure facility designed to enable Victoria’s innovation community to better engage with classified Defence and National Security programs. The first facility of its type in Australia, the Victorian Common User Facility is a key initiative in creating new business opportunities for Victoria’s innovation sector.

For more information or to make CUF bookings, please email viccufbookings.gr-eo@lmco.com

Australian Defence Export Office Pitch Training Program

The ADEO, in partnership with Marketing Entourage, have created a five week online pitch training program specifically for businesses looking to export defence and dual use goods and services. This training is fully subsidised for Australian Defence Industry businesses.

The program is specifically designed to improve the chances of success for Australian defence industry companies when engaging with opportunities to pitch their capabilities to foreign military and military suppliers. The training is delivered through a series of webinars, online modules and one-to-one pitch practice sessions.

Australian Defence Industry businesses are encouraged to apply by registering their interest at the link below. Multiple people from the same business can be included as a single application. Limited spaces are available on each cohort and the ADEO will prioritise businesses who have recently participated in an industry delegation with TDA.

Click here to learn more about the Online Pitch Training Program and to register your interest.

In 2022, Human Performance Week brings together two events:

The Defence Human Sciences Symposium (DHSS), the principal Australian forum for those interested in the application of human sciences research to enhance Defence capability, an

The Human Performance Research Network Symposium (HPRnet). HPRnet is an established network of universities that draws together multidisciplinary teams from around the country who are co-invested in the delivery of significant outcomes for Defence. The symposium brings together existing network members and those with an interest in human performance to hear about the latest developments in human performance research for the military.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The 2022 AGM for ADA-Vic will be held on Wednesday, 30th November 2022, from 10-11am at our offices at 570 Bourke St.

This is a member only event. Please advise us of your attendance by Friday, 25th November 2022 by emailing us at info@australiandefencealliance.org.au

The business to be conducted shall include: confirm minutes from the previous AGM, held on 28th February 2022; review of the association’s activities for the 21-2022 financial year; review of the financial report for the year ending 30th June 2022; and consider any other business which may be brought before the meeting in accordance with the association’s constitution.