About the Schools Pathways Program (SPP)
The Schools Pathways Program (SPP) is a national project funded by the Australian Department of Defence. Running from 2024 to2026, it provides $11 million to promote jobs in the defence industry.
The goal of the SPP is to increase the number of students studying science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) subjects that are useful to the defence industry. It also aims to:
- Create pathways from school into defence industry jobs
- Change young people’s negative impression of the defence industry
It’s important to know that the SPP is not a general STEM education program. SPP programs do not have to follow the school curriculum or improve your results in specific STEM subjects. Programs funded by the SPP don’t need to be taught by qualified teachers, and their activities don’t need to match what you’re learning in class. Instead, activities must support the defence industry’s needs. That means it focuses on STEM only in ways that connect directly to the priorities of the Department of Defence.
What is the defence industry?
The products and services produced by the Australian defence industry are used by the Australian Defence Force and are also sold to other countries. The defence industry says it makes things for “national security and other important tasks” but ultimately the defence industry makes the things that governments need to fight and win wars, including lethal weapons and technologies that can cause harm and suffering.
Products made by the Australian defence industry have also been sold to countries that are accused of violating human rights.
Why is the government promoting the defence industry to students?
The Australian government predicts there will be more jobs in the defence industry in the future, and wants to create a bigger ‘pool’ of workers with the right skills.
The government also wants to change student’s negative impression of the defence industry by giving students fun experiences.
Thinking critically about the defence industry
Jobs
The Australian government says there will be up to 20 000 more jobs in the defence industry over the next 30 years. That’s just 666 per year on average – which is not very many when compared to other industries. For example, Jobs and Skills Australia calculates that:
- Healthcare and social assistance is set to create 250 000 jobs in just 3 years
- Education and training is expected to add 120 000 jobs in the same period
- The renewable energy sector will need 59 300 workers in the next five years
People interested in a career in STEM might find more opportunities in these sectors.
Economic benefit
The defence industry gets a lot of public money, but provides little economic benefit. Other industries employ more people, and contribute more to the economy, than the defence industry.
| Sector | GDP Contribution (2023–24) | % of GDP | Employment (2023–24) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defence Industry | $11.9 billion | 0.47 % | 69 400 |
| Retail | $107.8 billion | 4.2 % | 1 320 000 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $190.3 billion | 7.3 % | 1 750 000 |
| Education & Training | 108.2 billion | 4.2 % | 1 210 000 |
Ethics
The global defence industry is strongly associated with corruption, breaches of humanitarian law, human suffering, and environmental degradation – so it’s no wonder that 40% of young people in Australia have ethical concerns about working in the defence industry.
While the SPP promotes local defence industry careers like manufacturing, engineering, space, or logistics – jobs that don’t seem to have a lot to do with war or suffering – anyone considering a career in the defence industry must consider bigger ethical questions. For example:
- Is it right to work in an industry that ultimately profits from war?
- Is it right to play even a small role in developing technologies that are designed to harm people
- Could STEM skills be used to address our problems, or create public benefits, instead?
Should I participate in the Schools Pathways Program?
Anyone who wants to participate in SPP should do so! But it’s helpful to be fully informed about what the program is really for, and to think critically about the bigger picture.
Why not raise questions about ethical issues, or economic benefits, with your SPP program provider? Or ask your school to provide programs to promote industries that improve people’s lives and address our big issues, like food and water security, renewable energy, housing, or health?