NOWRA, Australia, 22 March 2023 – Sikorsky Australia, a Lockheed Martin company, today announced it has onboarded a new cohort of apprentices to work on the sustainment of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) rotary-wing assets at its Maintenance and Logistics Support facility in Nowra.

The new starters, including seven aircraft maintenance apprentices and one warehouse logistician trainee, join a 200-strong Sikorsky Australia workforce as part of the company’s formal training program to nurture local talent in the Shoalhaven region by providing opportunities to develop advanced skills in aircraft maintenance.

Sikorsky Australia’s General Manager, Cliff Kyle said, “We are delighted to welcome the new apprentices and trainee to our team and look forward to helping them become fully qualified aircraft maintenance engineers and warehouse operation logisticians.”

“Our highly skilled, dedicated regional workforce is the backbone of Sikorsky Australia. The team has been proudly sustaining the ADF Black Hawk and Seahawk helicopter fleets for over 30 years with excellence.”

“We are focussed and committed to recruiting and training apprentices and trainees to grow Australia’s aviation industrial base in support of the ADF’s mission now and into the future.”

“We will continue to invest in the Shoalhaven workforce to ensure we have the right people, trained to deliver complex sustainment services on the ‘Hawk’ assets to ensure they are mission ready for our customer,” said Mr. Kyle.

“With the Australian Defence Force’s recent acquisition of 40 UH-60M Black Hawks and 13 additional MH-60R Seahawks, it’s incumbent on Sikorsky Australia to ensure our regional workforce is nurtured and grown to deliver cutting edge capability for decades to come.”

Today’s engagements of seven aircraft maintenance apprentices bring Sikorsky Australia’s apprentices cohort to twelve, which constitutes around 15% of its maintenance workforce. Already the apprenticeship program has graduated eight apprentices who have transitioned to full time roles, further strengthening the workforce. Further, four warehouse logistician trainees have graduated from the company’s two-year training program.  Moving forward, Sikorsky Australia is committed to its apprenticeship and traineeship programs delivering year-on-year workforce growth.

Sikorsky Australia’s new apprentice, Emily Reichler, a qualified landscaper who had worked in a landscaping business in the Shoalhaven for over five years, was seeking a change. “I was looking for a stable career with a new challenge every single day and a great environment. I saw the opportunity on Seek and decided to throw my hat in the ring. I was fortunate to receive one of the apprenticeships at Sikorsky Australia and I’m so excited with my new career in sustaining the Royal Australian Navy’s Seahawks.” Further she added, “Having grown up in the Shoalhaven you see Navy helicopters all day, every day, so it’s nice to finally understand how they operate and why they do what they do.”

Chris Neville, another proud new apprentice of Sikorsky Australia, worked in retail before he joined Sikorsky Australia. “After nine years within retail, I moved into logistics first with a cheese factory where I built up my experience. I then joined the Sikorsky Australia team as a logistician for over two years. After that time, I was looking for growth opportunities and applied for the aircraft maintenance apprenticeship and won a position.” The new apprentice reflected, “It’s a hands-on role, I’m happier in my job, and I get a good feeling knowing that I’m contributing to Australia’s security. It’s been a really positive move. I encourage people who are considering a change in careers to back yourself as you can always grow and there are interesting career opportunities at Sikorsky Australia.”

For additional information, visit www.sikorsky.com.au

About Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand

Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company employs more than 1,500 people across Australia and New Zealand working on research, design, development, logistics, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services spanning the aerospace, defence and civil sectors.

Media Contacts:

Stacey Ward, +61 439 369 305, stacey.l.ward@lmco.com