Looking for a job? There are hundreds up for grabs as part of a new $200m defence project in Adelaide’s north. Find out how you could nab one.
Big sheds in the backyard… they’re a common Australian dream. But this new one, set to be built in South Australia, takes big to a whole new level.
The Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility (DMMF) is no ordinary big shed. This $200m project is set to become one of the largest construction endeavours ever undertaken by Renewal SA.
Just how big are we talking? Picture this: at 240 metres long, 60 metres wide and 25 metres high, this four-bay hangar is almost 50 per cent longer than Adelaide Oval. That’s a lot of space for some seriously impressive aircrafts!
Jobs, jobs, jobs!
The DMMF doesn’t just have impressive dimensions, it’s also going to create a whole lot of jobs. The two-year construction phase, which has already begun, will generate around 450 construction jobs. Once operational in 2026, the facility is expected to support around 50 new, ongoing positions, including:
- Mechanical engineers
- Avionics specialists
- Structural engineers
- Painters
- Ground servicing equipment technicians.
Boosting Australia’s defence capabilities
As well as creating jobs, the DMMF will enhance Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities. This state-of-the-art facility will enable the long-term deep maintenance and modification of the Australian Defence Force’s fleet of Boeing 737 variant military aircraft.
This includes:
- P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft
- E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft.
For the first time, these aircraft can now be maintained on Australian soil, reducing reliance on offshore maintenance services.
A strategic location
The DMMF will be strategically located adjacent to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Edinburgh in northern Adelaide. This proximity to existing defence infrastructure will create a powerful hub for military aviation maintenance and technology.
Training the next generation: The Heights Technical College
Handily located near the DMMF and RAAF Base Edinburgh, The Heights Technical College is set to open its doors in 2026. This isn’t your average high school – it’s a cutting-edge facility designed to train the next generation of aerospace professionals.
The Heights Technical College will offer industry training programs for grade 10-12 students, including:
- Aero skills: Perfect for those dreaming of careers as aircraft maintenance technicians in defence and civil aviation.
- Advanced manufacturing and engineering: Ideal for future professionals in defence, engineering and manufacturing.
- Building and construction: For those who want to contribute to the infrastructure supporting these massive projects through a trade in the building and construction industry.
The Heights is one of five technical colleges funded by the South Australian Government, each designed to replicate the look, feel and flow of industry workplace environments.
The big picture
The DMMF and The Heights Technical College are part of a larger vision for South Australia’s jobs future. The state government is investing heavily in defence infrastructure and education as SA spearheads the largest, most complex naval shipbuilding and defence projects in our nation’s history. These will create 10,000-plus new defence jobs for locals
over the next 20 years.
Recent announcements include the development of the $60m Australian Defence Technologies Academy (ADTA) at Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen – made possible by an equal funding partnership between the state and federal governments.
The South Australian Government has also launched a whole wave of other exciting education opportunities that lead straight into defence jobs, including paid apprenticeships that come with a uni degree and free TAFE courses.
Registrations of interest for enrolling in any of the five technical colleges can be made online here.
