SA school students can shoot for the stars

South Australian secondary school students aiming for a career in space now have the chance to get work experience with companies involved in the state’s growing space sector.

The Space Industry Work-Experience Program is an initiative of the South Australian Space Industry Centre and the Department for Education’s Advanced Technology Program.

Announced by Premier Steven Marshall and Minister for Education John Gardner this week, the program gives students the chance to undertake short-term placements during school holidays at ten selected local space companies.

Participants will learn more about the exciting opportunities in this high-tech, high-growth industry, set to boom across the state following the Federal Government’s announcement that the Australian Space Agency will be based at Lot Fourteen in Adelaide.

Space is a target sector at Lot Fourteen, an innovation neighbourhood being developed by Renewal SA on behalf of the State Government on the site of the former Royal Adelaide Hospital. One of its tenants is Inovor Technologies, the only Australian company that designs and manufactures satellites in Australia using an Australian supply chain.

The Federal Government has also announced that a Mission Control Centre and Space Discovery Centre would be developed at Lot Fourteen to complement the Australian Space Agency.

The Space Industry Work-Experience Program is available to students in years 10, 11 and 12 from public and non-government schools. Applications will open in July.

The selected students will work alongside a mentor at South Australian space organisations for two to three days during either the Term Three or Term Four school holidays.

Premier Steven Marshall says the program will give students invaluable insights into the local companies now driving growth across the space industry nation-wide.

“South Australia now has such a vibrant and thriving space ecosystem, with the Australian Space Agency, SmartSat CRC, Mission Control and Space Discovery Centre all to be housed in Adelaide,” he said.

“The investment in this exciting high-growth sector stimulates our economy, and will see incredible opportunities for young South Australians, encouraging them to stay here in our state.”

Visit the Department for Education’s website for more information on the Space Industry Work Experience pilot program 2019.