Enabled by the Australian Government’s Defence Industry Schools Pathway Program and supporting the South Australian Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Action Plan; this cutting-edge initiative flips the traditional workforce model — putting students in control of their futures.
Using AI-driven and behavioural science-based tools, it provides students with deep insight into their natural strengths and matches them with real career pathways, unlocking immersive content and hands-on learning.
Through Forge Your Future, students can discover, engage, and connect with their future employers, gaining industry experience and certifications along the way.
By unlocking individual potential and aligning it with the vast opportunities in the defence sector, Forge Your Future gives students a once-in-a-generation chance to shape the future of Australian industry capability and innovation - and directly connects industry with its future workforce.
Discover
the next generation of the Defence Industry workforce and ignite their potential.
Engage
directly with your future employees to fuel their aspirations.
Connect
individuals with your Defence Industry opportunities to help them Forge Their Future.
Decoding workforce opportunities for students
We engage students in their world rather than waiting for them to step into ours. Through in-school events and innovative online engagement, we introduce students to the diverse opportunities in the defence industry and build excitement.
We provide free access to personalised skills assessments and career matching. By identifying natural aptitudes and potential to learn high-demand skills, we match students with tailored education pathways and employers to turn dreams into action.
Our virtual work experience gives students a realistic look at careers through a ‘day in the life of’ format. This builds intent and engagement.
Matching to learning & development targeting job-readiness provides students with a customised portal for training, education and job placement opportunities.
We are inspiring growth through mentorship by connecting students with industry professionals for real-world insights and connection.
Career events create meaningful engagement between students and defence employers, to fill roles and create pathways.
Connecting the ecosystem
Students
Discover exciting career opportunities and gain tools for success.
Parents & Educators
Engage your students with resources to guide and support career decisions.
Employers
Connect with emerging talent prepared for the defence industry.
Why yourcontribution matters
The Australian Government’s unprecedented investment in building the future Defence Industry workforce has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity to nurture your next generation of career starters. Forge Your Future allows your business to position itself as an employer of choice for a skilled and motivated demographic, access untapped talent during critical career decision-making stages, and leverage government-supported and non-traditional career pathways to streamline the school-to-work transition.
By participating, your organisation will be positioned amongst the leaders in South Australia’s Defence Industry and a key contributor to its future growth. Through nurturing untapped talent and supporting their transition from school-to-work, this initiative provides long-term career opportunities while placing participants—and your business—at the forefront of innovation in Australia’s defence supply chain.
With investment at this scale, the opportunity to Forge Your Future is here for the taking.
Get involved
Whether you’re a student, parent, employer, or pathway provider, there are multiple ways to engage with Forge Your Future.
