I am a business
Why work with Defence?
Large, long-term and well-resourced projects
Work at the cutting edge of your sector alongside the best in the business
Access to Government grants and support
Rapidly growing sector with increasing opportunities
Variety of contracts - short-, long-, and mid-term
Contracts available across Australia with significant regional investment
Significant Government investment
$3.4 billion
Invested through the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator to rapidly develop and transition into service disruptive capability solutions that address Defence’s strategic priorities
Growing your business
The Office of Defence Industry Support (ODIS) provides a range of services to support defence industry businesses. These services help small to medium-sized Australian businesses grow their capacity to meet Defence capability needs and join global Defence Industry supply chains.
Grants for Defence Industry
The Government is working in partnership with SMEs and leading defence companies to support upskilling and retraining workers. If your small or medium-sized business is looking to invest in its defence-related capabilities, you can apply for a grant that will support a proportion of your costs depending on the grant.
Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIP) Stream
- Between $50,000 and $1 million available to support eligible businesses
- Up to 50% of the project cost
- For building capabilities aligned with Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIPs)
Export Stream
- Between $15,000 and $250,000 available to support eligible businesses
- Up to 50% of the project cost
- For investment in projects that build defence export capacity in priority defence capability areas as identified by the SDIPs
Security Stream
- Between $5,000 and $100,000 available to support eligible businesses
- Up to 50% of the project cost
- To uplift or maintain the security controls needed to build defence capability in priority areas as identified by the SDIPs
Skilling Stream
- Between $5,000 and $250,000 available to eligible businesses or Defence Industry Associations
- Up to 50% of the project cost
- For defence sector skill development to support defence priority capabilities as identified by the SDIPs, now and into the future.
JSF Industry Support Program Sustainment
- Phase 1 and 2 - up to $250,000 for Australian companies provided an assignment by the United States Government for maintenance and repair activities for existing components used in the Joint Strike Fighter Program
- Phase 3 and 4 - funding to be determined by the Department of Defence under the amount outlined in your supporting business case
JSF Industry Production and Modernisation
- Between $150,000 and $1.5 million available for eligible businesses
- Up to 50% of the project cost
- For the development of new or improved capabilities that will win work in the production and modernisation phases of the Joint Strike Fighter Program
US-Australia International Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative
- Up to $1 million per year over 3 years
- Available to Australian universities involved in a successful submission to the US Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) program
What capabilities are needed?
The Government has released the public version of the Defence Strategic Review (the Review), the Government’s response to the Review, and the National Defence Statement 2023. The Government’s response to the Review sets out a blueprint for Australia’s strategic policy, defence planning and resourcing over the coming decades.
Defence industry will continue to play a vital role in equipping and sustaining the Australian Defence Force.
We need to continue to work together, pivoting our workforces, to deliver the priorities our nation requires.
The Government has also released the Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS). The DIDS articulates for the first time the defence industrial base needed in the face of the changing strategic circumstances outlined in the Defence Strategic Review.
Defence has identified 7 Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIPs), which represent the industrial capabilities Defence requires in Australia. Successful industrial prioritisation means Defence can access the industrial capabilities it needs to deploy a defence capability if, when and how the Government directs.
The SDIPs are:
SDIP 1 – Maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade (MRO&U) of Australian Defence Force aircraft
SDIP 2 – Continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment
SDIP 3 – Sustainment and enhancement of the combined-arms land system
SDIP 4 – Domestic manufacture of guided weapons, explosive ordnance and munitions
SDIP 5 – Development and integration of autonomous systems
SDIP 6 – Integration and enhancement of battlespace awareness and management systems
SDIP 7 – Test and evaluation, certification and systems assurance
To understand one of the specific capabilities the Government is supporting industry investment in, check out the AUKUS Nuclear-Powered Submarine Pathway.
To learn more about Defence Industry workforce needs see the Defence Industry Skilling and STEM Strategy
Getting help
The Office of Defence Industry Support (ODIS) provides advisory, guidance and mentoring services for eligible businesses to help them navigate, prepare for and access the defence market. The ODIS team can advise you on your readiness for defence market opportunities, and connect you with supply chains and innovation opportunities. They can also help with grants to improve your business capabilities.
Available business grants
There are a number of grants available to Small and Medium Enterprises to help them upskill employees or develop offerings suitable for Defence. Check out a selection below:
- Skilling Australia’s Defence Industry Grant Program
- Defence Global Competitiveness Grants
- Joint Strike Fighter Industry Support Program Sustainment Grants
Where to next?
Take the first steps on the rewarding path to working in Defence Industry.
