The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has welcomed Qantas’ announcement of a new engineering academy to combat skills shortages and train aviation engineers for highly skilled roles.

The union says that the move should be part of a larger national plan to reignite onshore manufacturing in the aviation and defence industries. Qantas, and the broader industry, must also guarantee to secure well-paid careers to boost the workforce.

It adds that this is an opportunity for Qantas to invest in developing skilled workers and commit to retaining its highly skilled workforce by creating secure, well-paid positions.

Secure employment is the bedrock of skills development, and the Qantas Group has the chance to directly employ trainee engineers and ensure the Engineering Academy provides the best possible training for new entrants.

This Academy is a step in the right direction to address the looming capability gap in Australian aviation, space, and defence industries, particularly in avionics manufacturing.

“We need a national and holistic approach to the capability gaps in the aviation industry, especially one that includes avionics manufacturing,” ETU acting national secretary Michael Wright says.

“There are enormous opportunities to grasp in aviation, space and defence, but we need a high skill base underpinned by secure careers. As a country, we need to be self-reliant, and the Engineering Academy is a big first step in attaining this.”