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Boeing Defence Australia has signed on as an employee partner with the upcoming The Heights Technical College in South Australia, opening in 2026.
The defence prime will work with the Department of Education on the design of learning programs and the workplace experience needed for students to prepare themselves for a career in the industry.
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An important component of the defence industry in South Australia, the aeroskills sector, has limited vocational pathways to entry-level roles within the state; an issue that will be addressed through the technical college.
These skills will be vital for workers at the $200 million Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility in Edinburgh. The four-bay aircraft hangar will facilitate the specialist maintenance of the Australian Defence Force’s Boeing 737 variant military aircraft.
“The opening of a massive new defence aircraft maintenance facility at Edinburgh in 2026 is going to create high-quality, long-term careers in the highly technical area of aeroskills,” SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said.
“Not every child needs to go to university. We desperately need young people with a desire to work on complex machinery to protect our nation.
“They can be assured they can gain this qualification while completing high school and be perfectly placed to walk into a fulfilling career in a growth industry.”
The Heights Technical College, which is co-located with The Heights School, is in the final stages of construction, with a special sneak peek of the new space made available to current Findon Technical College students this week. It has been designed to feel like a workplace to help students obtain the necessary skills and experiences to transition to work.
The two-storey building features purpose-built facilities with a combination of metal and glass, along with cladding in selected colours and textures, all inspired by the local landscape. A 270-degree wraparound projection screen, covering three entire walls, will further create an immersive learning experience for students, simulating what it’s like to fix the underside of an aircraft. Other technologies on site include welding simulators, 3D printers and an IT suite with industry-standard software and equipment.
The space includes workshops, where students can focus on any of the four industry pathways on offer, including aeroskills for careers as aircraft maintenance technicians in defence and civil aviation, advanced manufacturing and engineering for careers as fabricators, welders and engineers.
“These are not technical colleges of yesteryear. They are cutting-edge learning environments offering an education for the future; all co-designed with industry to ensure students learn in a space that mirrors real-world workplaces,” said Blair Boyer, SA Minister for Education, Training and Skills.
“We have already seen at Findon Technical College the value in identifying the areas of greatest workforce demand and then partnering with employers in those sectors to make sure there is a direct pathway for students into a job.
“The Boeing partnership is significant for the technical colleges, and in particular the Heights, as it will be the only school offering this pathway in the country.”
Other pathways include building and construction for careers in those industries as well as early childhood and education for careers of early childhood workers and teachers.
The SA government has committed $208.8 million to build five technical colleges, one of which is co-located with Findon High School, which opened last year. Work is underway on the four other sites, with Port Augusta to open to students later this year, and three others – The Heights, Tonsley and Limestone Coast – to open in 2026.
The Heights, like the other four colleges, is open for enrolments from students currently in years 9 and 10, for enrolment in years 10 and 11 in 2026.
“Our agreement with The Heights Technical College will give more young South Australians the opportunity of working at the cutting edge of aerospace with companies like Boeing,” Boeing Defence Australia managing director Amy List said.
“With one of the largest aircraft maintenance workforces in South Australia, focused particularly on the support of Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidons and with more than 30 aircraft technician roles to fill over the next two years, we rely on a pipeline of candidates who are equipped to support the front-line aircraft we maintain and upgrade for the Australian Defence Force.
“The Heights will support the future growth of local aerospace companies like Boeing Defence Australia, and we thank the South Australian government for the opportunity of being involved.”
