Latest Defence News from ADA-Vic

About the Event

We have planned to have the 2 session day full of Defence Briefings and Networking opportunities on Friday the 25th of June.

Defence Networking Events are critical to your progress in the Defence Industry.

This event brings people together from all around Australia for a fantastic day of networking set amongst an amazing backdrop with morning tea and lunch briefings, as well as a golf competition and then a dinner networking session as well.

You can book in for the full day or join for a half day... but it is an event not to be missed!

Speakers and sponsors are being coordinated now with some very senior stakeholders in Government, Defence and Industry Primes who will provide updates for the year ahead.

We understand that Golf is not everyone's "cup of tea", however the focus is not on golf - but on the networking that happens in the other 6 hours and also the 4 hours on the golf course.

The golf competition is an Ambrose competition, which is played in such a way that all skill levels are catered for and everyone has fun (even if you really can't hit a golf ball!).

Venue:
Medway Golf Club, 57 Omar Street, Maidstone VIC 3012

Date:
Friday 25th June 2021

Time:
8:30am - 7pm

Tickets

ADA-Vic member pricing:

Morning Networking Session, including lunch = $50
Full Day Golf & Networking, including dinner = $130

Non-members

Morning Networking Session, including lunch = $75
Full Day Golf & Networking, including dinner = $195

Please Note: Numbers are still limited due to COVID restrictions = so get in QUICK!

Having registered your interest previously, does not secure tickets for the day, so please purchase a ticket before they are all sold out.

You must buy a ticket to be granted access for the half or full day of networking sessions on the 25th of June. If you have not purchased a ticket, you will not be able to enter the building to be a part of the day at Medway golf course were all networking sessions will be run on the day.

From Defence

Defence is running a Virtual National Defence Industry Skilling and Workforce Summit over 2 half days on 5 and 6 May 2021. Register your interest here
Team Defence Australia is planning to take a delegation to Sea, Air, Space in Washington USA from 1 to 4 August 2021. See more details on the ICN webpage here
The Commonwealth Government has released its Modern Manufacturing Strategy’s Defence National Manufacturing Priority road map. See more here
And also the Modern Manufacturing Initiative - Manufacturing Integration Grant Program for the Defence sector is now open. See more here
The Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group staff will be able to undertake work placements with defence industry. See more here
The Commonwealth Government has committed $1 billion to a Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise and will seek a strategic partner to operate a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability. See more here
The Commonwealth Government has expanded the range of skilling activities that can be funded under the Skilling Australian Defence Industry program. See more here and here
Defence has made $25 billion in accelerated payments as a COVID support measure since mid last year. Defence is developing options for the cessation of this initiative
A reminder that if defence industry businesses are still experiencing COVID related issues they can reach out to the Industry Support Cell in Defence’s COVID-19 Task Force on COVIC19.isc@defence.gov.au
National Defence Industry Skilling & Workforce Summit 2021 is on the 5 & 6 May, register here
Team Defence Australia is planning to take a delegation to Sea, Air, Space, in Washington USA from 1-4 August 2021. For more information on how to sign up see here.

Funding and Announcements

CDIC Grants Open... 3 x Capability Improvement & Competitiveness Grants, more here
$1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) Funding Opportunity, more here. Also see the Government's Modern Manufacturing Strategy which the MMI funding aligns with here
The Commonwealth Government has launched the Cyber Security Skills Partnership Innovation Fund to support the delivery of new pathways in the sector, more here
The Commonwealth Government is encouraging space related businesses to apply for the second round of the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund grants. See more here
Government promotes Moon to Mars with more Grants, more here & here
Business Events Grant Program = Assistance to attend industry events, more here
Victorian Govt. 'Small Business Digital Adaptation Program', update your business, more here
ASBAS - Funding to Get Professional Advice for updating your business, more here
Skilling Australia's Defence Industry (SADI) Grants "Open for Applications", more here

Other News

EOIs are open for the DSI’s Land Force’s PitchFest. See more here
The DSI is calling for proposals in support of a $1million initiative to advance the development of prototypes for enhanced resilience against chemical and biological threats. See more here
The Avalon Airshow has been deferred a week and it will now run 30 November to 5 December 2021, more here
DefendTex Military Products has received a Defence Global Competitiveness Grant to acquire and install an injection moulding line. See more here
Call out for proposals for the Defence Science Institute Hazardous Agent Challenge. See more here
The latest edition of Defence Technology Review can be found here
Lockheed Martin’s STELaRLab wins a contract to develop an integrated systems that can detect and neutralise improvised threats. See more here
Simulation Australasia, Unconference and the Wemen in Simulation groups are delivering a ‘Women In’ Unconference Series. Register here
Thales Subsidiary, Australian Munitions, achieves $30 million in munitions exports in 2020. See more here
AME Systems becomes an accredited supplier to Northrop Grumman. See more here and here
AOS Group has been selected too participate in Raytheon’s Capability Plus program. See more here
The Naval Shipbuilding College will soon give SMEs access to its Workforce Register. This will provide SMEs access to a list of qualified people seeking employment in the sector

Defence National Manufacturing
Priority road map released

The Goals

2 years: Manufacturers are investing more in addressing Defence priority capabilities and other market opportunities have improved their linkages within the defence ecosystem.

5 years: Greater manufacturing capability and increased participation in defence supply chains by Australian businesses. Smaller manufacturers are scaling up, creating the underrepresented ‘middle’ of the defence industry.

10 years: More Australian businesses are contributing to local and international defence supply chains, while more Australian innovation and intellectual property is contributing to products supplied to the ADF and other markets.

For the website with more details see more here

ICN understand the challenges faced not only by businesses but all of the people affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

From 1 April 2021 for a three-month period ICN will provide all active Victorian businesses on ICN Gateway with an automatic upgrade to our Be Seen subscription. This means your company profile will now appear in public searches and Be Seen on ICN Gateway.

ICN has been integral in the delivery of many government programs designed to support SME’s in Australia and New Zealand. Our Industry Advisers are on the ground ready to assist. They work on both sides of the supply chain, and are deeply knowledgeable about local industry and opportunities.

Both ICN and the Victorian government is committed to getting as many people back to work as quickly as possible with stimulus packages and shovel ready projects. These projects will be integral to our economic recovery and ICN wishes to ensure as many Victorian businesses as possible can Be Seen to procurers and project managers.

NOTE: Companies who do not have an active subscription and have subscribed to ICN Gateway who wish to become active again are eligible for the free upgrade. In order to be automatically upgraded, please login to your company profile before 1 April 2021.

Eligibility
To be eligible for these offers your company primary location MUST be in Victoria.

Any Questions?

More information about projects available in your region and other helpful documents are available here.

If you have any questions you can call us on (03) 9864 6700 to speak to an Industry Adviser or email info@icnvic.org.au.

The current COVID-19 situation highlights the need for Australia’s health security to be underpinned by a nationally coordinated approach to sovereign preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery (PPRR).

Opportunity to Contribute

All organisations that play a role in research, product development, manufacture, or distribution of technologies and products of relevance to the six critical sectors identified below are strongly encouraged to complete to the NHSRA.

The NHSRA will extend beyond previous audits of Australia’s medical countermeasures capability to include end-to-end research, development, manufacturing and distribution in six critical sectors including:

Medical Countermeasures
Medical Devices
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Modelling and Simulation
Hazard Management
Sensing Systems

NHSRA OPENS 30th November 2020
NHSRA CLOSES 31st May 2021
TIME COMMITMENT 15 – 60 minutes (depending on the sector(s) in which your organisation is involved) SCOPE National

For more information please contact DMTC
Phone: +61 3 9214 4447
Email address here
Web address here

DSI Hazardous Agent Challenge
(DSI-HAC)

Between $50,000 and $500,000 are available per project to support collaborative projects of 6 - 18 months' duration.

DSI is calling for proposals in support of a $1M initiative to advance the development of prototypes for enhanced resilience against chemical and biological threats.

The DSI Hazardous Agent Challenge (DSI-HAC) has been designed to support national collaboration to assist with the formation of multidisciplinary teams, and is open to industry and academia from across Australia.

Industry and academia from across Australia are invited to submit proposals for projects which will support the development of prototype solutions to enable the ADF to respond faster, more flexibly and more resiliently to chemical and biological threats and achieve enhanced situational awareness in contaminated environments for prolonged periods of time.

Funded by Defence through the Next Generation Technologies Fund (NGTF) and the Operating in CBRN Environments (OCE) STaR Shot, the initiative leverages NGTF priority themes in Advanced Sensors and Enhanced Human Performance to support the development of prototype demonstrators in the following areas:

Sensing (Wearable Sensors and Deployed Surveillance): Novel sensor technologies and heterogeneous sensor networks for early detection of chemical or biological threats or accurate characterisation of low concentrations of toxic industrial chemicals at large standoff distances.

Warfighter Resilience: The translation of data gathered from non-invasive wearables into actionable insights that would enhance the warfighter’s ability to predict and extend their capacity to perform their mission under OCE threats and stresses.

The last day for submission of proposals is Wednesday, 12 May 2021.

More information on how to apply can be found here

RMIT - HAPS Challenge
(High Altitude Pseudo Satellites)

The HAPS Challenge aims to energise local Australian development of key technologies and to ensure Australian sovereign HAPS that have accurate station-keeping capability or long endurance capacity needed to allow deployment over an area of operations for a period of days to weeks.

Trusted Autonomous Systems, SmartSat CRC, and RAAF Air Warfare Centre in association with SLWDAC at RMIT invites Australian companies to enter the High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) Challenge. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to our national capability.

Phase 1 Submission Due Date = 24th May 2021

Phase 1 Shortlist for Phase 2 completed = 25th June 2021

Phase 2 Commencement = 28th June 2021

Phase 2 Submission Due Date = 8th October 2021

Phase 2 Shortlist for Phase 3 completed = 12th November 2021

Phase 3 Commencement = 15th November 2021

Phase 3 completion and demonstration = 20th May 2022

More information on how to enter can be found here

The Joint Strike Fighter Industry Support Program - Sustainment Grants

This grant program provides Australian businesses with funding to develop new or improved capabilities to win work in the sustainment phase of the Joint Strike Fighter Program.

The grant opportunity is to support Assigned-Product Support Providers (A-PSPs) to develop and implement their approved Depot Maintenance Activation Plan (DMAP). Through their plan they'll become a Qualified F-35 Component Depot Source of Repair (DSOR) for maintenance and repair activities for existing components used in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Grants from $50,000 up to $250,000 are available to fund up to 50% of eligible project expenditure for phase 1 and 2. Phase 3 and 4 funding will be determined by the Department of Defence in accordance with the amount outlined in applicants supporting business cases.

The program details are available on the BGA website, including program guidelines with button below.

In the first of many local packages to be offered throughout the life of the 50-year program, these specialised pieces of equipment include the steering gear system, weapons handling system and main shaft line, and will support hundreds of Australian jobs.

Naval Group has officially launched its first ‘Local Manufacturing Package’ expression of interest (EOI) to Australian industry – part of a package expected to be worth almost $900 million, with the company also opening its office at Port Adelaide.

Professionals In International Trade and BDO cordially invite you to the launch of the Melbourne branch.

We look forward to an evening of lively peer discussion, with speakers from government and industry providing their views on key issues for the sector.

It's a great celebration and networking opportunity for those working in the International Trade sector.

ABOUT PROFESSIONALS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE (PIT)

PIT is a not-for-profit organisation founded in Sydney in 2014. Its key objectives are to connect and support like-minded individuals, firms, and organisations who work and share a common interest in international trade and investment, business, and foreign affairs. Originally Sydney-based, PIT is now expanding into Melbourne and other capital cities to meet the needs of trade-engaged individuals and firms in those regions. Currently, PIT has 800 members including trade professionals, firms, chambers of commerce and educational institutions. We have worked closely with Austrade and various government departments over the years to run events in Sydney.

As well as providing practical support, PIT runs a series of educational and topic based events dealing with trade issues, such as commercial and regulatory aspects of trade, supply chain strategy, trade diversification etc. PIT also produces papers and articles dealing with trade policy, as it affects businesses dealing with a global trading environment. Finally, PIT provides a structure for trade networks to develop by bringing together a range of interests in a sharing environment.

"National Defence Industry Skilling & Workforce Summit 2021"

(Register Here)

5 & 6 May 2021

On behalf of the Department of Defence, we are delighted to invite you to the Virtual National Defence Industry Skilling and Workforce Summit 2021 to be held on 5-6 May 2021.

The focus of this years’ Summit will be the complex challenges and opportunities facing the next generation defence industry workforce and how to enhance young peoples’ participation in the sector.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn and engage on these issues alongside participants from industry, government and the education sector.

This Summit will be a little different to previous events – it’s entirely virtual and will run over two half days.

Over the course of the Summit, you will be able to attend a range of engaging and interactive sessions covering a variety of issues including:

• Keynote addresses from senior Defence and Industry representatives

• Meeting the long-term workforce challenge

• Current initiatives encouraging young people to pursue careers in defence industry

• Case studies on how adjacent industries and allies have attracted and retained a youth workforce.

Further detail on these sessions and how to register for specific sessions will be available shortly – make sure you register your interest to ensure you do not miss out on any details.

(Register Here)